Tennis Industry Magazine

Racquet Sports
Programming
Community Tennis
Looking to GROW
PICKLEBALL & How to work a
THE GAME locally?
TENNIS: Can
CARDIO TENNIS
they be friends? class light on players Call your TSR now!
NOV/DEC 2015 / VOLUME 43/ NUMBER 10 / $5.00
Wish List for

the New Year!
Last years
Champions of
Tennis tell us
their hopes
for 2016.
Help Your Players

Get A Grip
New Tennis Shoes
Create Opportunities
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TennisIndustry
www.tennisindustrymag.com
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
DEPARTMENTS
FEATURES
Our Serve
Industry News
26 W
ish List for the New Year
We asked last years Champions of Tennis
winners what theyre looking for in the
coming year.
14 Letters
16 TIA News
18 Racquet Tech
p.26
20 Community Tennis
30 Mixing It Up
22 Grassroots Tennis
38 Tips & Techniques
Tennis shoe manufacturers are creating

opportunities with a complex balance of
fashion, technology and changes in the game.
40 String Playtest: Babolat M7 17

Your Serve, by Kevin Theos
42
INDUSTRY NEWS
7
Dave Haggerty elected
ITF president
7

USPTA headquarters
to move to Lake Nona
Babolat introduces
connected wristband
Court surface uses

recycled tennis balls
Hall of Fame capital

campaign exceeds goal
Vitalsox introduces
hot new socks
32 Pickleball and Tennis
p.30
The explosive growth of pickleball can be a

positive for the tennis marketif tennis lets it.
34 Numbers Game
Dont yet have the numbers for an ideal
Cardio Tennis session? You can still create a
great experience, and grow your profits.
p.32
36 Getting a Grip!
9
Youth Tennis event
held at US Open
9
Van der Meer, Gullikson

into USPTA HoF
Having the right grips and overgrips are

crucial to not only good performance,
but also to the players health.
p.34
10 People Watch
anadian doctors
11 C
prescribe exercise
11 N
CAA Div. 1 Chps. to
use no-ad scoring
hort Sets
12 S
13 PTR HoF to induct
Billie Jean King
p.36
PLUS
44
CEOs Message
p.43
50 T
he True Warrior
64 Pay Yourself First
54 U
SPTA World Conference
Wrap up
65 Remembering Rich
46 Vice Presidents Message

48 Endorsee News
50 Beyond the Court
63 Inside Coaching
Master Pro Corner
64
66
Career Development
68 Member News
Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

2 TennisIndustry
November/December 2015
Our Serve
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams

Editorial Director
Peter Francesconi
peter@tennisindustrymag.com
Associate Editor
Greg Raven
Design/Art Director
Kristine Thom
Special Projects Manager
Bob Patterson
Catching More
Players
n the September/October issue, I wrote about how we in

this industry have let ourselves
be pulled away from what should
be our mainand very simple
purpose: getting more people to
play tennis. I received many supportive comments. (Unfortunately,
I was unable to convince many of
those who commented to put their
name to their thoughts and send
me a letter to the editor I can publish. But, that is a topic for another
day.)
For those of us who have put our
time, career, and life into this sport,
we need to make sure increasing
tennis participation is always front
and center. For all the millions of
dollars spent on programs, initiatives and marketing for tennis, the
focusand the resultmust be
growth of the sport at the grassroots level. To repeat what I said
in the last issue: My business, as
does yours, depends on this sport
growing.
But one of the continuing challenges we have in trying to grow
tennis is that we tend to overcomplicate things. Growing this sport
isnt rocket science, but it is all
about being local. Its great to have
large national programs, but they
need to be brought down to a local
level, with support from and for

local tennis providers.
And related to that, we still need
to give people clear and simple
reasons to play this game in the
first place. Theres a small item in
Industry News this month about
doctors in Canada prescribing
exercise to patients. I had suggested this years ago: We should be
reaching out to doctors to get them
to promote and prescribe tennis to
their patients. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we must
use health and fitness as a major
reason to play. Plus, we should take
a cue from the many nations who
are effectively growing tennis in
their countries using Cardio Tennis
(a program we developed here!).
The newest industry-wide initiative announced during the US
Open is Rally the Family, which
will launch to consumers in the
spring and is designed to position
tennis as an activity families can do
together (see page 16). While plans
are still being developed for Rally
the Family, the idea is to fish where
the fish areattract those people
who are most likely to play tennis.
Families are looking to have fun,
engage with each other and be active. We know tennis can fit
that bill.
Peter Francesconi, Editorial Director

peter@tennisindustrymag.com
4 TennisIndustry
Contributing Editors
Robin Bateman
Cynthia Cantrell
Kent Oswald
Cynthia Sherman
Mary Helen Sprecher
Contributing Photographers
Bob Kenas
David Kenas
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IndustryNews
Information to help you run your business
Former USTA, TIA Prez

Haggerty To Head ITF
ormer USTA and TIA President Dave Haggerty was

elected president of the International Tennis Federation on Sept. 25 at the ITF Annual General Meeting in
Santiago, Chile. Haggerty will serve a four-year term, from 2015
to 2019, heading the world governing body responsible for the
rules of tennis and maintaining the integrity of the sport.
The 58-year-old succeeds Francesco Ricci Bitti, who held the
post for the last 16 years. Ricci Bitti has been named an Honorary Life President of the ITF.
Haggerty was elected on the second ballot with 200 votes,
over Anil Khanna (IND) with 192 votes. Rene Stammbach
(SUI) and Juan Margets (ESP) were eliminated on the first
ballot.
Katrina Adams, the current president of the USTA, was
elected to the ITF Board of Directors and also named as an ITF Vice President. The other
vice presidents are Khanna and Stammbach.
The rest of the ITF Board of Directors for the 2015-19 term include: Martin Corrie (GBR), Sergio Elias (CHI), Ismail El Shafei (EGY), Bernard Giudicelli (FRA), Jack
Graham (CAN), Thomas Koenigsfeldt (DEN), Celia Patrick (NZL), Aleksei Selivanenko
(RUS), Rene Stammbach (SUI), Stefan Tzvetkov (BUL), and Bulat Utemuratov (KAZ).
Haggerty has held a variety of roles within the USTA since 2001 and within the ITF
since 2009. He served as chairman, CEO and president of the USTA in 2013-14, and was
a vice president on the ITF Board of Directors in 2013-15. He is a former president of the
TIA and a current board member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. His 30-year
career in the racquet industry includes being a former chairman of Head USA, president
of Penn Racquet Sports, and president of Dunlop Maxfli Slazenger Sports.
USPTA HQ to Move from

Houston to Lake Nona
he USPTA Executive Committee voted on Sept. 21 to relocate the organizations headquarters from Houston to the
Lake Nona area in Orlando, Fla. The plan, unveiled on Sept.
22 by USPTA President Tom McGraw at a general session during
the USPTA World Conference in New Orleans, is to occupy an office directly across the
street from the new USTA National Campus currently under construction. Also in the
same location as the new USPTA headquarters will be the offices for the USTA Florida
Section, which will relocate from its current office in Daytona.
USPTA CEO John Embree said the plan is to move into the new 10,000-square-foot
Lake Nona headquarters building at the end of 2016. Well be paralleling the path of the
USTA in opening in the fourth quarter of 2016, he said. The synergies that well be able
to have here will be fantastic.
The USTA National Campus will have 102 courts, of various sizes and surfaces. USPTA
sources say it is close to a deal for selling the current, 40-year-old building in Houston.
This will be a tough time for our staff in that not everyone will be relocating, Embree
said. But we know down the road this will be the best thing for our association."
Babolat POP is a Connected

Tennis Wristband
Just before the US Open, Babolat
unveiled to media its new Babolat
POP, a sensor worn in a wristband that
will work with any tennis racquet. It
pairs with an IOS or Android device via
Bluetooth so players can see their stats
live, and it also collects data about a
players game and
allows players of all
ages and abilities
to interact with and
challenge friends,
taking advantage of
social and gaming
features.
Available now, the Babolat POP has
a suggested retail price of $89.95 and
includes wristband, sensor, charger
and USB cable. Visit play.babolat.us/
pop-connected-tennis.
Solomon-Led Group Buys

Atlanta, Memphis Events
Tennis promoter Jerry Solomon
and a group of financial backers
have bought the BB&T Open, the ATP
Tour tournament in Atlanta that is
part of the Emirates Airline US Open
Series and played at the end of July.
Earlier this year, the same Solomonled group also acquired the ATP
event in Memphis, which is played in
February.
Solomon has indicated that both
events will stay in their current locations, with their current tournament
directorsEddie Gonzalez for the
Atlanta tourney and Erin Mazurek for
the Memphis Open.
The BB&T Open is played in midtown Atlanta and was owned by
the USTA Southern Section. The
Memphis Open, which is played at
the Racquet Club of Memphis, is the
only indoor ATP event contested in
the U.S. Ownership was transferred
to Solomons group from a company
in which the USTA is a joint owner.
Solomon is president of Star Games
Inc., which runs an annual exhibition
at Madison Square Garden.
TennisIndustry 7
IndustryNews
HoF Capital Campaign
Exceeds $15 Million Goal
The International Tennis Hall of Fames
fundraising on the Match Point Capital Campaign has exceeded its $15 million goal, the
HoF announced in September.
After three years of hard work by the
Capital Campaign Committee and especially
by Chairman Ed Woolard, I'm very pleased
to announce the campaign has exceeded its
goal and, in fact, construction on the improvement projects that will result from the
campaign is already more than 70 percent
complete, said HoF Chairman Christopher
Clouser.
The entire project is set to be completed
and dedicated in May. The campaign was
focused on a complete renovation of the
museum; six new tennis courts and major
expansion to the tennis club; improvements
to Bill Talbert Center Court, primarily new
seating on the South and East sides; an

overall expansion and enhancement to the
property, including the addition of a significant new building to house offices and tennis
club facilities.
Attention Stringers! Scam Alert!

It was recently brought to our attention
that someone may be contacting USRSA
members by text and/or email with a
scam asking for their rates for stringing
services. They then send the stringer a
fake cashiers check, then later ask for a
portion of that amount back, before the
stringer is alerted by his/her bank that
the cashiers check is fake.
The USRSA has filed a complaint with
the F.B.I. about this scam. Please be
cautious in responding to any texts or
emails you might receive from someone
regarding your services. The USRSA
apologizes for any inconvenience this

may cause you.
Vitalsox Introduces
Hot New Socks
The newest crew socks from Vitalsox are
a tribute to our Italian creativity, says Vitalsox National Sales Manager Don Crusius.
The new crews are
constructed like all
of our socks, with a
patented superior
wicking fiberSilverDryStatand our
familiar compression,
like all of our socks.
Each of the three new
styles comes in three
eye-catching colors,
too.
Crusius says Vitalsox plans to introduce
new styles every two months. For more
information, visit Vitalsox.com or contact
Crusius at vitalsox1@gmail.com or 214-4607681.
Industry Loses
Dr. Howard Brody
Surface Uses Recycled Balls
court surface made partially of recycled tennis balls was installed at the
Tenafly Racquet Club in Tenafly, N.J., in August, says Franz Fasold, owner of
Ace Surfaces Inc. of Orlando, Fla.
Advanced Polymer Technology and Ace Surfaces Inc. created with Laykold Masters the first cushioned court with a shock pad that absorbs up to 10,000 recycled
tennis balls in a single tennis court. Rather than rolling into a landfill, the groundup tennis balls are incorporated into a cushioned indoor/outdoor sports surfacing
system: Laykold Masters 5 and Laykold Masters 8.
Those who found hard courts to be difficult on their hips, knees and back will be
pleasantly surprised by the difference the surface will have on their body, says Gordon Uehling, founder and managing director of Tenafly Racquet Club. We hope to
see other clubs in the country follow our lead in making the sport more enjoyable
while helping the environment. Visit tennisballcourts.com.
8 TennisIndustry
The industrys foremost physicist of

tennis, Dr. Howard Brody, passed away
on Aug. 11 in Bryn Mawr, Pa., at the age
of 83. Brody was an emeritus professor of
physics at the University of Pennsylvania,
where he spent his entire career.
Brody became interested in the science and
physics of tennis in the
1970s and was the first
to make the sport the
object of serious scientific study. An avid recreational player, he wrote
the book Tennis Science
for Tennis Players and co-authored
The Physics and Technology of Tennis,
in addition to dozens of other scientific
articles on the sport. He also wrote the
PTRs science manual.
He was a member of the ITFs Technical Commission, and among the many
honors he received were the Educational
Merit Award from the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the Stanley Plagenhoef Award for sport science achievement.
IndustryNews
Tennis Racquet Performance
Specialty Stores
U S TA /A N D R E W O N G
January-June, 2015 vs. 2014

2015
305,585
Units
2014 299,767

% change vs. 14 2%
$45,009,000
Dollars 2015

2014
$44,391,000

% change vs. 14 1%
Price
2015
$147.29
2014 $148.08

% change vs. 14 -1%
Youth Event Held at US Open
he USTA held a Youth Tennis exhibition during the US Open to generate awareness of the importance of multi-sport participation in creating a
lifelong enjoyment of sportsempowering future generations of children to
stay healthy and active.
Nastia Liukin, 2008 Olympic gold medalist; Ryan McDonagh, captain of the New
York Rangers and a U.S. Olympian; and Laila Ali, former boxing champion, TV host
and USTA Youth Tennis spokesperson, spoke about the benefits of playing multiple
sports and how an early, positive experience in sports creates a lifelong commitment to an active lifestyle.
The event coincided with National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and
USTA Tennis Play Events taking place around the country in the month of September. Visit YouthTennis.com.
Nancy Horn Passes Away

Nancy Ellertson Horn died peacefully at
her home in Boulder, Colo., Aug. 22 after
a two-year struggle with ALS. She was
58 years old. In 1977, Horn joined Rocky
Mountain Sports Inc. and for 38 years
helped manage the company, rising to vice
president. Contributions may be made in
her name to: Crayons to Calculators, 721
Front Street, Suite A, Louisville, CO 80027,
or ALS Therapy Development Institute, 300
Technology Square #400, Cambridge, MA
02139.
Van der Meer, Gullikson

Inducted into USPTA HoF
Dennis Van der Meer and Tom Gullikson were inducted into the USPTA
Hall of Fame in September at the annual
awards presentation during the USPTA
World Conference in New Orleans.
Both of these men have made an
incredible impact on our profession and
in the tennis industry, and USPTA is honored to be able to recognize them, said
USPTA CEO John Embree. Throughout
their careers, they have made an enormous impact to our mission of elevating
the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches across the country
and around the world.
Van der Meer and Gullikson join 16 others in the USPTA Hall of Fame, which is the
associations highest honor.
HoF, ITF Honor Stenning

In a special ceremony at the US Open, the
International Tennis Hall of Fame and the
International Tennis Federation honored former
Hall of Fame CEO Mark
L. Stenning with the
2015 Golden Achievement Award, which is
presented annually to an
individual who has made
significant contributions
internationally to tennis
in the fields of administration, promotion, or
education, and who has devoted long and
outstanding service to the sport.
Stenning served as CEO of the Interna-
Top-Selling Racquets
at Specialty Stores
By year-to-date dollars
Jan.-June 2015
1. Babolat Aero Pro Drive 2013 (MP)
2. Babolat Pure Drive 2015 (MP)
3. Wilson Pro Staff 97 (MP)
4. Babolat Pure Drive GT 2012 (MP)
5. Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Auto (MP)
Hot New Racquets

(introduced in the past 12 months)
1. Babolat Pure Drive 2015 (MP)
2. Wilson Pro Staff 97 (MP)
3. Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Auto (MP)
4. Babolat Pure Drive Team 2015 (MP)
5. Babolat Pure Drive Lite 2015 (MP)
Top-Selling Tennis Shoes

at Specialty Stores
By year-to-date dollars, Jan.-June 2015
1. Asics Gel Resolution 6
2. Prince T22
3. Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tour
4. Asics Gel Solution Speed 2
5. Asics Gel Resolution 5
Top-Selling Strings
at Specialty Stores
By year-to-date units, Jan.-June 2015
1. Babolat RPM Blast
2. Prince Synthetic Gut Duraflex
3. Wilson NXT
4. Wilson Sensation
5. Luxilon 4G
(Source: TIA)
TennisIndustry 9
IndustryNews
People
Watch
Jimmy Evert, father of
Chris Evert and a legendary,
longtime teaching pro who
served as the tennis director
for the City of Fort Lauderdale
for nearly 50 years, passed
away Aug. 21 at age 92. Contributions may be made to
the Jimmy Evert Scholarship
Fund; checks can be made
payable to the USTA FoundationJimmy Evert Fund, 70
West Red Oak Lane, White
Plains, NY 10604.
Head players found success
at this years US Open. Novak
Djokovic won his third Grand
Slam of 2015 and 10th in
his career after defeating
Roger Federer in the
singles final.
Taylor Fitz won
the boys
singles title.
Head player
Leander Paes,
with Martina
Hingis, won a
third mixed doubles
title of the season. And David
Wagner earned the Mens
Quad doubles title, with
partner Nicolas Taylor.
tions for the Lighting Solutions division. Matsueda will

be responsible for all aspects
of marketing strategy and
execution, public relations,
trade shows, collateral,
site content, social media,
competitive research,
creative direction, brand
development and more for
LSI Lighting Solutions.
Terri Graham has resigned
her position at Wilson Sporting Goods after 21 years
as the Business Director of
Indoor Racquet Sports. She
will be moving on to the
world of pickleball developing the US Open Pickleball
Championships taking place
in Naples next April.
Head player Sloane
Stephens won her first
career title at the Citi Open
in Washington in
early August,
playing
with the
Head
Graphene
Radical.
International Tennis Federation President Francesco

Ricci Bitti received the 2015
USTA Presidents Award
during the USTA Semi-Annual
Meeting in New York City
during the US Open. Hes
served as president of the ITF
since 1999 and is stepping
down this fall.
South African
Kevin Anderson received
the fifth annual US Open
Sportsmanship Award presented to the professional
tennis player who best
demonstrates excellence in
sportsmanship throughout
the Emirates Airline US Open
Series and the US Open.
LSI Industries Inc.

has named Jay
Matsueda
as Senior
Director of
Strategic
Marketing &
Communica-
Longtime USPTA Director

of Operations Rich Fanning
passed away on Aug. 21,
following a battle with
cancer. Memorial donations may be made to:
Priest Retirement Fund,
In Memory of Rich Fanning,
10 TennisIndustry
St. Cecilia Catholic Church,

11720 Joan of Arc Drive,
Houston, TX 77024-2602.
honor of Benjamin and made

possible by a legacy gift from
Margie and Stan Smith.
Longtime USTA Missouri

Valley staff member and
volunteer Fred Johnson died
Aug. 5 following a courageous fight with cancer.
Ben Porter is the new Global

Product Manager for Wilson
Sporting Goods.
The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has

promoted Cameron Jacobs
to manager of communications and research and John
Peters to director of sales
and member services.
Five U.S. tournament
directors were selected
by a subcommittee of the
USTAs Junior Competition
Committee to be named the
first class of Blue Ribbon
tournament directors. Honored for their hard work and
dedication were: Ivan Baron
of Parkland, Fla.; Robert
Dunivan of Deer Park, Texas;
Meghan Houk of Tucson;
Lorraine Novak of Mobile,
Ala.; and Sheryl Osborn of
Arlington, Texas.
John Bridgeland, a 1982
Harvard graduate, received
the Intercollegiate Tennis Associations highest
honorthe 2015 ITA David
A. Benjamin Achievement
Awardin September. The
award honors past participants in varsity tennis who
have achieved excellence in
their chosen careers. Bridgeland is the CEO of Civic
Enterprises, a public policy
firm, and Co-Chair of the
Franklin Project at the Aspen
Institute, an initiative to create a voluntary, civilian national service counterpart to
military service. The award
this year was renamed in
Wayne and Kathy Bryan,

Jerry and Jeanie Buss, Bill
Rombeau, Brian Teacher and
Pam Teeguarden were recently
inducted into the Southern
California Tennis Association
Hall Of Fame.
The National Senior Games
Association honored 67-yearold racquetball player Sharon
Huczek with a Class of 2015
Personal Best Award. Huczek
earned one gold and one silver
medal for her racquetball
singles and doubles play at the
recent 2015 National Senior
Games.
Jennifer Capriati was among
eight professional athletes
honored in early October at
the 30th Annual Great Sports
Legends event in New York
City, which is sponsored by
the Buoniconti Fund to Cure
Paralysis.
Former World No. 1 Victoria
Azarenka has switched her representation from the Lagardere
company to IMG.
Brian Ogle is the new senior
director of global sales and
marketing for K-Swiss. His
new responsibilities include
developing a global voice for
tennis, creating sales programs
and strategies, overseeing the
footwear/apparel/accessories
product lines, and developing
partnerships with retail partners around the world. Hell
also be responsible for athlete
recruitment and development.
IndustryNews
tional Tennis Hall of Fame for 14 years,
before stepping down last September, and
he was with the organization for 35 years
overall in various leadership roles. Stenning,
who also was on the TIA board of directors,
has been highly engaged in the sport as a
whole.
Canadian Doctors Write

Prescriptions for Exercise
in its new line of ZyMax badminton

strings. The line incorporates Ashaway's
proprietary BETA polymer fibers, and is
constructed using the company's special
ZyWeaVe string
core technology. At
0.69 mm, ZyMax
69 Fire is the heaviest string in the
line, and is de-
signed to provide chronic string breakers

with dynamic stiffness for excellent feel
and repulsion; optimum power and durability; knot and loop strength; and tension holding ability for consistent reliable
performance. Visit ashawayusa.com.
TuringSense Introduces
Wearable Technology
TuringSense, a Silicon Valley-based startup
Many Canadians who visit the doctor

with health and medical issues are going
home with a unique prescription: written instructions to exercise. This new
philosophy is picking up momentum in
the province of Quebec where nearly
9,000 general practitioners have new
prescription pads produced for exercise
and physical activity prescriptions.
The pads are designed so that exercise
instructions can be given by doctors in
15-minute increments, which are called
exercise cubes.
So many people say the right thing
about the importance of physical exercise, but Canada is taking this to a whole
new level, says PHIT America Founder
Jim Baugh. We hope doctors in the U.S.
quickly follow the lead from our friends
to the north.
NCAA Div. 1 Championships

To Use No-Ad Scoring
Starting in 2016, the NCAA Division I
men's and women's tennis championships
will utilize the no-ad scoring format. The
NCAA Division I Competition Oversight
Committee announced its decision before
the US Open, following more than three
years of discussion that included members
of the ITA, USTA and the NCAA Division I
Men's and Women's Tennis Committee.
The decision of the NCAA to adopt the
ITA format for the NCAA Division I Tennis
Championships helps create a bright future
for the sport of tennis, said David A. Benjamin, former ITA executive director for 37
years and presently the chairman of the ITA
Board of Directors. The goal of everyone involved these past several years has been
to make college tennis even more relevant
and more exciting.
New ZyMax 69 Badminton

String From Ashaway
Ashaway Racket Strings has introduced ZyMax 69 Fire, the heavyweight
TennisIndustry 11
IndustryNews
Short
Sets
The U.S. Davis Cup
team beat Uzbekistan,
3-1, in a 2015 World
Group Playoff match in
September to move back
into the World Group and
be eligible to compete
for the 2016 Davis Cup.
The U.S. will travel to Australia for its first-round
2016 World Group match
March 4-6.
The long-running Family Circle Cup is changing
its name to the Volvo
Cars Open. The event,
which began in 1973, is
the largest womens-only
tennis tournament in the
world. It will be April 2-10
on Daniel Island, S.C.
PGA Tour Superstore
says 14 of its tennis
associates from stores
around the country
have received the
highest certification a
racquet sports retailer
can receive, recognition as Master Racquet
Technicians (MRT) by the
USRSA. We're thrilled to
have so many newlyminted Master Racquet
Technicians at our stores
to ensure consumers
receive the best service in
retail, said Dick Sullivan,
President and CEO of
PGA Tour Superstore.
Sports industry executives Mark Miles and
Larry Scott were recognized for their extensive
contributions to tennis
by presentation of the
Eugene L. Scott Award
during the Legends Ball
in New York, which is
hosted by the International Tennis Hall of Fame
12 TennisIndustry
during the US Open.

In addition, The Tennis Media Company,
which this year marks
the 50th anniversary
of Tennis Magazine,
received the Joseph F.
Cullman 3rd Award
Rome, Ga., has
been selected to
host the 2016-17
USTA Southern Junior
Team Tennis Section
Championships. The
city is on track to open
the 51-court Rome
Tennis Center at Berry
College in June. The
annual tournament will
be Aug. 11-14 and is
expected to draw about
60 co-ed teams from
the USTA Southern
Section.
Rocky Mountain
Sports will be exclusive U.S. distributor
for Mauve Sports
products.
The USPTA has
partnered with the
International Tennis
Performance Association (iTPA), which
now is now the official
tennis-specific sport
science educational
organization for the
USPTA. The partnership allows members of
both organizations to
take advantage of additional education opportunities. Visit uspta.
com/certification.
Ashaway Racket
Strings has terminated
Harrow Sports as a
distributor of Ashaway
strings, the company
announced. In addition, Ashaway will no
longer supply Super-
Nick XL squash strings

for factory stringing in
Harrow frames.
TIA Cardio Tennis
Manager Michele
Krause received a letter
of appreciation from
Florida State Rep. Greg
Steube recently, following a story about Krause
and Cardio Tennis in
the Sarasota Herald. "I
would like to offer my
wholehearted congratulations to you on the
outstanding success of
Cardio Tennis, Steube
wrote. "Thank you for
dedicating your talents
to our community.
The press center at
the US Open was officially named the Bud
Collins US Open Media
Center in a ceremony
Sept. 6, during the
tournament.
Maria Sharapova, the
co-owner of Supergoop!, has announced
the launch of Project
Black Dot, an education
and activism platform
with the mission to end
the epidemic of skin
cancer and improve
skin health in America.
The initiative will focus
on providing consumers with sun-care education and activations
year-round.
USTA Foundation,
the national charitable
foundation of the USTA,
has granted 53 high
school students a variety of college scholarships totaling $373,000.
American Express
has entered into a
multi-year renewal of
its USTA and US Open

sponsorship. American
Express first became a
sponsor of the US Open
in 1994. Through its
partnership, American
Express contributes to
the growth and health of
the sport of tennis from
the grassroots level to
the US Open.
Fisher Island Club Hotel & Resort, located on a
private, 216-acre island
accessible by ferry from
Miami Beach, recently
finished renovations to
its tennis center that
included construction
of two red clay tennis
courts. Now, Fisher
Island offers all three
Grand Slam playing
surfaceshard, clay and
grass, with its total 18
courts.
The USTA announced
its first LEED (level of
certification) Green
Building Certification for
its US Open Transportation Building, part of the
USTA's commitment
to create a sustainable
future and reduce environmental impact.
The Toluca Lake Tennis
& Fitness Club has been
voted the 2015 Best
Health and Fitness Club
in Los Angeles in the
Readers Choice Awards
for the Los Angeles Daily
News. Ben Brunkow is
the tennis director and
Christian Straka is the
head pro.
The Pro League of
Hilton Head Island, S.C.,
donated $2,600 recently
to the PTR Foundation,
the charitable arm of the
PTR.
Infosys and the ATP

have announced a
strategic partnership
to leverage the latest
technological advances
in mobility, cloud and
analytics. As part of this
partnership, Infosys
will become the Global
Technology Services
Partner and Platinum
Sponsor of the ATP
World Tour, as well as
the season-ending
Barclays ATP World
Tour Finals, for the next
three years.
The FirstEnergy
Foundation has donated $10,000 to Inner
City Tennis Clinics of
Cleveland (ICTC) to
support programs that
provide local children
the opportunity to develop skills both on the
tennis court and in the
classroom. Founded in
2010, ICTC has served
thousands of children
with free programs
designed to increase
high school graduation rates and physical
fitness, and develop
skills to compete on the
tennis court.
Plannit, which
offers a smartphone
app to help tennis professionals manage
their business, is now
the official mobile business platform of the
USPTA.
Wilson has launched
a marketing campaign
called My Wilson
designed to spotlight the relationship
between athletes and
their equipment and
the stories they create
together.
IndustryNews
in wearable sports technology, made its debut
in September at the USPTA World Conference
in New Orleans, showcasing its first product,
Pivot, a multi-sensor, high-speed full-body
motion analysis system.
"We wanted to show our commitment to
tennis and felt [the USPTA World Conference]
was the perfect venue, said TuringSense
co-founder and CEO Limin He. Pivot, now in
beta, is the most advanced motion capture
technology designed to improve each player's
tennis game, and ultimately, help elevate the
tennis industry. It is wearable technology that
can truly empower and democratize tennis
playing and training. For more information,
visit turingsense.com.
Art Tucker Retires From CSS

After 32 years at California Sports Surfaces, Art Tucker officially retired in September. He joined California Products in
March 1983 and helped set the company
on the path to becoming the worlds largest manufacturer of acrylic sports surfacing systems.
Tucker long-championed the Plexipave and
Plexitrac product lines
and was instrumental
in California Products
acquisitions of DecoTurf
and Rebound Ace. In
his final year, he helped provide a guiding
hand through the acquisition of the Premier Group.
He served several terms on the ASBA
board of directors, served on several ASBA
committees and presented at the Technical
Meeting many times.
USTA Foundation Receives

$150,000 Grant from ESPN
USTA Foundation, the national charitable organization of the USTA, has
received a $150,000 grant from ESPN to
support seven National Junior Tennis and
Learning (NJTL) network chapters. The
NJTLs are part of the newly established
Capacity Building Program, designed to
provide long-term technical assistance
for selected NJTL chapters.
The seven receiving a Capacity Building Program grant on behalf of ESPN are:
A's & Aces, New Orleans; New HYTEsNew Haven Youth Tennis and Education,
New Haven, Conn.; Down the Line and
Beyond Foundation, Villanova, Pa.; Dallas Tennis Association, Dallas; InnerCity
Tennis, Minneapolis; Sloane Stephens
Foundation, Compton, Calif.; and Youth
and Tennis Academy, Queens, N.Y.
PTR Hall of Fame To Induct BJK

Billie Jean King will be inducted to the PTR
Hall of Fame on February 17, during the PTR
International Tennis Symposium on Hilton
Head Island, S.C. King was induced into the
International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987 and

the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame in 2010.
The PTR Hall of Fame was created to
preserve history and honor excellence. The
PTR Board of Directors elects members for
enshrinement. Induction into the Hall of Fame
is considered PTRs highest honor. King will
be the fifth inductee, joining Dennis Van der
Meer, Jim Verdieck, Dr. Jim Loehr and Arthur
Ashe.
USRSA Announces
New MRTs and CSs
Master Racquet Technician
Yan Vigeant - Longueuil, QC CANADA
Certified Stringers
Paul Gordon - Etobicoke, ON CANADA
Meredith Nixon - Markham, ON CANADA
Grace Tomlinson - Wynne Wood, PA
Mitchell Zavesky - Flossmor, IL
Correction
Our September/October issue contained
an incorrect phone number for Tecnifibre.
The correct contact info is 888-301-7878 or
info@tecnifibreusa.com. We apologize for any
inconvenience.
Vigeant is New USRSA

Tester in Canada
Yan Vigeant, owner of the store Le Coin Badminton in Canada, is the newest USRSA Tester.
Vigeant, a USRSA Master Racquet Technician,
has been in the racquet sports industry for almost 10 years and went from being a competitive badminton player to a badminton coach
and a tennis player. He spent the last decade
as a racquet technician at various local and
state tournaments, which led to the opening
of his racquet sports business near Montreal.
Vigeant says he has a passion for stringing
techniques and stringing machines, which has
led him to always staying on top of the newest
products and technologies in the field, as well
as always being ready to provide the best
advice and services to the tennis community.
TennisIndustry 13
Letters
Fighting the Fight
Each issue, Editorial Director Peter

Francesconi writes a column called
Our Serve in which he often begs,
pleads and cajoles the tennis industry
to keep its eye on the participation
ball. Please, keep serving.
Participation is the only engine
that will drive tennis forward. Participation drives racquet sales, ball
sales, shoe sales. Participation fills
pros lesson books. Participation fills
courts. Tennis can only do well when
people are driven to consume our
sport.
Pete, keep fighting the good fight.
Keep using your platform to demand
participation initiatives. Keep serving. You are the conscience of our
sport.
Jill Fonte
Executive Director
& Chief Operating Officer
USTA Eastern
Business Model Needs

to Change
Editors Note: Jill, thank you for your

kind words and support. In this waytoo-political industry, you pinpointed
another key issue: This shouldnt need to
be a fight at allwe all must have tennis participation and the growth of this
game as our top priorities.
I just read John Embrees "Tennis Directors of The Future" in the September/October issue and I thought he hit
the nail on the head. This topic is rarely
discussed in our industry. The business model as a whole of how directors
are compensated as well as their job
descriptions needs to fundamentally
change for the longevity of this career
path.
I've just recently been fortunate to
have been promoted from a Tennis
Director to General Manager for two
clubs that are owned by the same family in Buffalo, N.Y. My time on court as a
TD ranged from 20 to 30 hours a week,
but now that I'm overseeing two clubs,
it no longer is the best use of my time
to be grinding away that many hours on
court.
The challenge I'm having is finding a
way to pull back my hours from clients
I've taught over the years that still want
my time on court. I'm getting the sense
they feel I am abandoning them to a degree. Any feedback or suggestions that
could help my clients understand this
transition would be appreciated.
Mike Manzella
Buffalo, N.Y.
Because We Allow It
ROG Enlarges the Talent Pool
In reference to the editorial Eye on

the Ball in the September/October
issue, we as volunteers allow our
organization to be manipulated ineffectively by paid national leadership.
Where are the results for spending
millions on staffing year after year?
Have we ever seen a business plan?
What is our current marketing strategy to meet our mission: To promote
and develop the growth of tennis? I
learned to play tennis at a park and
recreation department 60 years ago
where is the support for the largest
aggregate of tennis courts in the U.S.?
These are just simple questions to
those we pay to grow the game. Perhaps I just havent seen the answers
to these questions. If theyre out
there, please share!
Ron Friedman
Past President, USTA New England
14 TennisIndustry
Id like to point out a few flaws in logic

in the letter Bill Pantsari sent in for the
August issue regarding the potential
value of the ROG progression in developing tennis players.
1. Despite the increase in the number
of players now participating in tennis
because of ROG balls, Pantsari remains
skeptical of the overall quality. The
tennis industry is making use of the
Law of Large Numbers. We are competing against other sports and activities in our efforts to attract the best
youth athletes to tennis. It is the tennis
professionals job to recognize the best
talent and cultivate it. I would rather
be selecting talent from a large pool
than a small one.
2. Pantsari states, It is sad ... to
watch 10- and 11-year-olds who have
never hit a ball above their shoulders.
No. Whats sad is watching 15-year-
olds who are married to a Western

grip forehand because that is what
worked best for them at age 10 or 11,
when 70 percent of all balls hit to
them were over their shoulders.
3. Pantsari invites us to a Little
Mo tournament being played by 8to 10-year-olds with yellow balls to
see the amazing results. The world
is littered with tennis players who
were young phenoms who never developed beyond that early flowering.
I am more interested in what kind
of player my student will be when he
or she is 17. How well developed are
all the skills needed to hit a tennis
ball?
A more important observation
is that the U.S. Junior Davis Cup
teams have not only performed
well, but dominated in international
competition for the last 20 years.
Where have all those players gone?
Certainly not into the Top 10 on the
ATP tour.
The definition of insanity is to
keep doing the same thing over and
over while expecting a different result. Tennis professionals who persist in denying the potential benefits
of training our youngest players on
ROG balls are skating on the thin ice
that separates us all from the cold
pond of insanity.
Scott Harris
USPTA Elite Professional/
PTR Professional
Riverside, Calif.
Praise for TIs Champions
Thank you for printing the Champions of Tennis Honor Roll in the
July issue. Looking back at all the
people, places and organizations
youve honored over the last 14
years makes me realize just how
special this sport, and the people
in it, truly are. Its inspiring to see
how many of the winners from the
early days of the awards are still so
dedicated to helping this sport grow.
Keep up the great work in bringing
these true grassroots tennis champions to light.
Josh Myers
Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Rally the Family Campaign

Introduced at TIA Tennis Forum
A Rally the Family campaign designed to bring more players into the
sport of tennis was unveiled by the USTA and TIA at the 8th Annual
TIA Tennis Forum, held in New York City during the 2015 US Open. The
new initiative will be rolled out to consumers in March.
Research shows that while families are spending more time
together and want to be active, theyre not engaging with each other
nor are they active because they are either watching TV or using their
own smartphones and other electronic devices, said Kurt Kamperman
(below left), the USTAs chief executive of Community Tennis.
We believe we can help tennis grow by positioning it as an
activity that families can do together, he said. Tennis is something
every family can rally around. We have distribution of the product, but
we cant just make the equipment accessible; we have to make the
activity accessible.
With Rally the Family, the USTA and the tennis industry are
coming together to grow the game, TIA President Greg Mason told
the more than 250 industry executives and tennis providers at the
Forum. The use of lower compression Red, Orange and Green tennis
balls, shorter tennis courts, shorter racquets and modified scoring can
bring more kids and adults into tennis in a fun, social way.
Playing into the Rally the Family campaign is research presented
at the Forum indicating 14.6 million Americans are interested
in playing tennis, but

currently arent tennis
players. This latent
demand represents a
significant opportunity,
Mason said, adding that
there also are another
12 million Americans
who consider themselves tennis
players but did not play in the previous year.
Also speaking at the Tennis Forum was USTA President, CEO
and Chairman of the Board Katrina Adams, who updated the crowd
on three key initiatives on which she is focusing: engaging the
Hispanic community, focusing on high school tennis players, and
improving sportsmanship in tennis. All three revolve around the
family, Adams said.
The Tennis Forum concluded with a ceremony honoring industry
pioneer Peter Burwash, a former pro player and coach who founded
Peter Burwash International, the worlds largest tennis-management
company, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Burwash
(below right with Mason and Jeff Williams) became the 10th
inductee into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame.
Cardio Tennis Marks 10 Years of Growing the Game

Ten years ago, Cardio Tennis made its national debut, with sessions
and demonstrations at the 2005 US Open that included celebrities
and major media coverage. Launched by the TIA in conjunction
with the USTA, the focus of Cardio Tennis is on health, fitness, and
cardiovascular exercise. As a result of the fitness-based element and
social atmosphere, the program has grown its participation base to
more than 1.6 million Americans. It also is now being delivered in
more than 30 countries.
Cardio Tennis was created to address the
growing fitness trend, and it truly appeals to a
broad spectrum of consumers, says TIA Executive
16 TennisIndustry
Director Jolyn de Boer. It brings both avid players to the court as well
as non-tennis players who are looking to simply get a great workout.
And for providers, it generates business by creating core tennis
players and consumers.
Interest in fun, group, social fitness is at an all-time high and
Cardio Tennis is a great crossover activity that not only allows you to
get an amazing workout, but to also get into tennis, and to improve
your tennis, says Michele Krause, the TIAs Cardio Tennis manager.
Its great for all ages and ability levels.
Whats in the future? In addition to the well
honed adult version, the TIA, with help from the
Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
CONGRATULATIONS, DAVE HAGGERTY!

New President of the
International Tennis Federation
In late September, former TIA and USTA President Dave Haggerty was elected president of the ITF,
the world governing body responsible for the rules of tennis and maintaining
the integrity of the sport.
Current USTA President Katrina Adams was elected to the ITF Board and selected as
one of three ITF Vice Presidents.
We wish them the best in their roles on the international tennis stage!
T.O.M. Conference Takes Shape in Miami
TIA Leadership News
Industry leaders and top experts in the field of facility operations and management
will be headed to Miami March 23-25 for the third annual Tennis Owners & Managers
(T.O.M.) Conference, which will take place during the Miami Open pro tournament.
The event will include a separate session on the State of the Tennis Industry.
While the T.O.M. Conference curriculum and presentations are still being
developed and refined, among the important topics will be the new, industry-wide Rally
the Family campaign and how tennis facilities can
take advantage of the initiative to help boost
business while increasing participation for all ages.
In addition, to help encourage young
professionals and entrepreneurs to continue to
pursue careers in the tennis industry, the 2016
T.O.M. Conference will include a Mentor Program
with special incentives and programming. The
conference also will include a Resource Center and
a Tech Fair, which will give club and facility owners,
managers and staff an opportunity to learn more
about and try out the latest products that can engage
members and players. There will also be roundtables and interactive workshops, along
with a session that will look at the successful tennis facility of the future.
Our third annual Tennis Owners & Managers Conference will build on the
successful event held last spring in Indian Wells, Calif., says TIA Executive Director
Jolyn de Boer. T.O.M. attendees also will have a chance to attend the Miami Open.
More details will be posted soon at TheTomConference.com.
With the new year, the

TIAs volunteer leadership
will shift from current
President Greg Mason
to a new president,
Jeff Williams (left), the
managing partner of The
Tennis Media Co. (Tennis.
com, Tennis Magazine,
Tennis Tuesday) and copublisher of Tennis Industry magazine. Williams
will begin a three-year term in January; Mason
remains on the board representing Head/Penn.
The TIA Global Council continues to
move ahead, with the release of the new
Global Tennis Marketplace research report.
The Global Council consists of Chairman Eric
Babolat (Babolat), Ottmar Barbian (Head), Mike
Ballardie (Prince), Hans-Martin Reh (Wilson),
and, starting in January, Williams.
In other TIA news, John Suchenski
(right), the senior manager of programming
and acquisitions at ESPN, becomes the newest
member of the Board
of Directors. Suchenski
oversees the networks
portfolio of tennis and
golf properties and
maintains relationships
with the tournaments,
event organizers, and
other industry partners.
In addition, Jim Fromuth of Fromuth Tennis
will represent the tennis retail sector and Greg
Lappin, former national tennis director for Life
Time Fitness, will represent the facility sector.
Stacey Allaster, who has been on the
TIA board since 2009, has resigned as chief
executive of the WTA. Named by Forbes as
one of the most powerful women in sports,
Allaster, a longtime supporter of the TIA, has
been a speaker at TIA Tennis Summit events.
national Cardio Tennis Team and other industry experts, is updating Cardio Tennis Kids,
to help get youngsters active and into tennis. For adults, there also is TRX Cardio Tennis,
the ultimate ball-striking, calorie-burning workout that incorporates power, muscular
endurance, flexibility and balance and includes tennis-specific TRX Suspension Training
System exercises. In addition, Krause and her team are leading training sessions around
the country, to increase the number of licensed Cardio Tennis Authorized Providers
(APs). Among the benefits APs
receive is access to dozens of
videos, drills and downloads at
Cardio Tennis TV.
For more on Cardio Tennis,
including information on
becoming an Authorized Provider,
visit CardioTennis.com.
Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
TennisIndustry 17
Racquet Tech
Gripping 101
The grip is a players

connection to the racquet.
Make sure it is installed
properly.
By Bob Patterson
ext to stringing, installing grips is the most expected

racquet service we perform. Many technicians, especially
those just starting out, will hesitate to offer services like
customizations, but stringing and gripping are the basics of the
business and its hard to do one without the other. (For more on
grips and overgrips, see Getting a Grip on page 36.)
To do a good job, you will need a few tools: scissors, a staple
gun, grip tape. Supplemental tools are a small, strong flat
screwdriver to remove old staples and a tack hammer to seat
stubborn staples.
You can refer to the USRSA Racquet Service Techniques Guide
for a step-by-step tutorial, but we will cover a few basic points
here to ensure that your grip job is a professional one:
1. Make sure of your customers preference. Are they right- or
left-handed? What type of grip do they prefer? Do they use an
overgrip? Is their handle the proper size? These are essential
questions to ascertain what your customer needs. It is hard to
provide a good job if you dont have this information. Just as
with stringing, you must first determine what your customer
needs.
2. Make sure you remove all the old adhesive and grip material
before you install the new one. If you have left old residue
on the handle, the new grip will not feel right and may be too
large.
3. Secure your starting point with a staple to ensure your job
doesnt come unraveled during play.
4. Make a clean, straight cut at the top. The finishing tape should
cover your cut. This is the most common mistake we see in
grip installation.
Your work is a product of your overall service. If you produce
sloppy and unprofessional work, your customers will associate
that directly and your business will suffer.
For more details on grip installation and racquet service,
USRSA members can access the Racquet Service Techniques
section of the USRSA website at www.racquettech.com.
18 TennisIndustry
Community Tennis
Local Delivery
For Tennis Service Reps, its all about
growing tennis in your area.
By Peter Francesconi
rowing tennis, and growing your

tennis business, is all about being local. It all boils down to how
many tennis players are playing at your
facility, or on your local community or
school courts.
Ten years ago, the USTA created the
Tennis Service Representative (TSR)
programbilled at the time as a sales
force for tennisto reach out and offer
resource support to tennis providers
looking to increase local participation
and gain new customers. Every USTA
section has TSRs, and while created by
the USTA national office, TSRs are employees of the section they reside in.
Its fair to say that TSRs have a lot on
their plates, says Glenn Arrington, the
USTAs director for TSRs, High School
and Tennis On Campus. Not only do
they provide resources and guidance
to all types of tennis providers in their
territories, but they also pitch in on sectional and national initiatives, industry
campaigns and a host of other responsibilities. These are some of the hardest
working people in tennis.
Currently, there are more than 85
TSRs,
For more information on
Arrington
adds. They
Tennis Service Reps and
to find the TSR who serves have to stay
up to date
your area, visit
on new
www.USTA.com/TSR.
programs,
initiatives
and trends within the sport so they can
provide useful ideas and solutions to
their customers. In many ways, they
act as tennis consultants, identifying
resources to help you fill your courts
and grow your business.
Our TSR team in Texas is how we
do tennis delivery, says Mike Carter,
director of community development
for USTA Texas, which has six TSRs.
Its all about supporting those who are
20 TennisIndustry
engaged in building local tennis opportunities, and thats what our TSRs
do so well.
Arrington, with help from sales
consultant (and 29-year former Wilson
territory manager) Bob Pfaender, has
been reaching out to TSRs and section
staff to make sure they have what they
need to build long-term relationships
and grow tennis in communities. The
depth and breadth of what TSRs deal
with on a daily basis is pretty amazing,
Arrington says.
For instance, Jon Kostek, a TSR for
USTA New England, recently started
a local Junior Team Tennis middleschool league in northern Connecticut.
Weve used our relationships with
Park & Rec departments and schools
to form the league, Kostek says. Each
school or town can enter teams.
Jons gotten a terrific response.
The schools and towns love the format
and love being able to offer organized,
recreational play, Arrington says.
USTA Intermountain TSR Toni
Sinclair (in front row with red shirt) is
a Play Day masterso far this year,
shes helped organize and conduct
more than 130 of them, in addition to
helping train CTAs and other organizations in how to do Play Days in a big
and funway.
Since Toni has become involved as

a TSR, the numbers (in our junior high
clinics) have quadrupled, says Nancy
Sommerwerck, president of McCall CTA
and director of the Donnelly Tennis Club
in Boise, Idaho.
Molly Zimmer, a TSR for USTA
Florida, partnered with YMCA Volusia
County to train 65 staff for summer
camps, then coordinated Kids Tennis
Camps that saw 1,036 youngsters on
court. Each of the five sites doing the
Kids Tennis Camps plans to continue
them in after-school programs, Zimmer
says. And the trained summer staff will
also transition to providing after-school
tennis.
TSRs also are leveraging pro events. At
the Western + Southern Open this past
August in Cincinnati, USTA Midwest
TSR Manager Jim Amick and his team
hosted a High School Tennis Hospitality
Day for coaches and players. We had
tons of fun, Amick says. It was great to
support high school tennis, a great way
to thank high school coaches and players
for all they do in tennis.
Our TSRs are unique, Arrington
says, able to keep a lot of balls in the air
while growing participation for all ages.
For tennis providers, connecting with
the TSR in their area will be a win for
everyone.
Grassroots Tennis
Play It Forward!
CTAs and public parks are on the front lines
when it comes to growing this sport in communities.
TEXAS
Creating Hot Shots!
What do you get when you combine a local superstar sports organization, a brand new
USTA Texas program, and a former World No.1s tennis foundation? More than 450 new
kids in the game.
The Alex OBrien Tennis Foundation and KidsInc, both of Amarillo, were looking to
introduce tennis as a new sport offering at KidsInc, and they found the USTA Texass Hot
Shot program to be the perfect combination of skills in a cooperative team format.
The idea of teaming up with USTA and KidsInc to reach kids with little to no exposure
to tennis was too good to be true, said OBrien, a former World No. 1 doubles and No. 30
singles player.
Hot Shots reaches kids right after their introduction to tennis in PE, providing them the
opportunity for semi-formal, team-based, fun and social competition. Through four to six
sessions, players compete with groups of teams and are guided by a Commissioner of Play,
who has had access to USTA Texas training as well as the Play Plan. Local Amarillo pros,
coaches, and parents volunteered to help on court.
Alex and his colleagues made this program well-received and extremely successful, said
Jimmy Lackey, president and CEO of KidsInc. Our goal is to continue the original curriculum and add a more advanced curriculum. And, with support from the Amarillo Area
Tennis Association, the next step is to transition kids into Junior Team Tennis and Junior
Tournaments. Amanda Friday
INTERMOUNTAIN
Rebuilding in Boulder
Rain hit the greater Denver area in September 2013 with a vengeance. Within a week, more
than 17 inches fell in Boulder County alone, causing catastrophic flooding along Colorados
Front Range. Gov. John Hickenlooper declared a disaster emergency on Sept. 12, 2013, in 14
counties. Hundreds of homes were damaged and destroyed and several lives were lost.
Flood waters surged down rivers and creeks, inundating fields and pastures, and leaving Knollwood Tennis Courts under a blanket of thick mud. This fall, the City of Boulders
Parks & Recreation Department began its facility upgrade work at the courts, with help
from the USTA family.
In August, the USTA Facility Assistance Program awarded a $25,000 grant to the city to
support the rebuilding of the damaged tennis courts, and Colorado Tennis Association and
Intermountain Tennis Foundation donated an additional $5,000. Facility enhancements
will incude two post-tension concrete courts, new fencing and equipment, new stairs and
an ADA accessible walkway ramp, and an improved drainage system.
We are very fortunate to have strong collaboration in our section with the Colorado
District and the Intermountain Tennis Foundation, said USTA Intermountain Executive
Director Rob Scott. We are very grateful to Kurt Kamperman and the USTA Facility Assistance Program for providing the lions share of these funds. Without this assistance these
courts would have been lost from Boulders inventory forever.
The Knollwood Tennis Courts project is one of the citys final 2013 flood recovery efforts
(also supported by FEMA and city funds) and anticipated to be completed this springprovided the weather holds.Wendy Anderson
22 TennisIndustry
Future of Tennis
Wish List for the

New Year
We asked last years Champions of Tennis
winners what theyre looking forward to
in the coming year.
Bahram Akradi
Joe Wang
My wishes for the future of tennis include putting more

of an emphasis and spotlight on high school and college
tennis. There seems to be a fairly good level of interest
in the sport from children, but then we tend to lose them
in high school, so I am completely supportive of USTA
President Katrina Adams focus on this important area
as one of her priorities. The USTA, tennis clubs and
facilities, the media and this industry overall needs to
collectively work on creating more scholarships and
visibility for high school and college tennis. Id like to see
more tournaments for high school players, and publicize,
market and televise them. Why not have an annual
national high school tennis championship that draws
players from every state, then finishes play at the US
Open?
From our business point of view as the largest operator
of indoor tennis courts in the country, were going to
continue to build and invest in opportunities to grow this
sport. When we buy or build a club with tennis courts,
we bring a substantial investment to that location, and
we plan on continuing our work in this areaproviding
venues that we hope will spur the rest of the country to
invest in tennis as well.
I love this sport, and of course, while I wish I could play
at the professional level, I think realistically, Ill have to
settle for significantly improving my own game in 2016.
At the top of our wish list are facility additions to

accommodate a tennis program that has grown by nearly
50 percent this past year. We experience a pattern of
older "empty-nest members replaced by young families
of five that are more likely to be interested in an active
sport like tennis. In that regard, we are looking forward
to plans to add an additional two indoor courts to our
six-court indoor tennis center. Wed also like to continue
our efforts to design a facility that maximizes operational
and financial efficiency while also keeping focused on
green" initiative opportunities that have led to a LEED
certified clubhouse and an LED lighting project at our
indoor center. Next year we are hoping to start a project
to leverage the large roof surface of the indoor center as a
solar energy center for the Club.
Program-wise, we hope to leverage our eight dedicated
36-foot court facility to host more tournaments. And
we look forward to ways to grow our charity-based
large pro-am events that we host as a vehicle to serve
our community while also providing unique tennis
opportunities for our membership to experience.
Lastly, as a private club manager, I would love to see
continued efforts to aggregate and share data between
clubs on a national level. Private clubs often operate in a
vacuum. Continued coordination among club managers,
organizations like Tennis Industry magazine, the TIA,
Chairman & CEO, Life Time

2014 Person of the Year
26 TennisIndustry
Tennis Director, Army Navy Country Club

2014 Private Facility of the Year
USTA, USPTA, and PTR provide valuable insight to

industry metrics and standards as well as help assure that
we are creating a consistent and strong career and training
path to attract and keep talented tennis experts to feed the
future of this industry.
David Yamane
USRSA Certified Stringer/

Master Racquet Technician
2014 Stringer of the Year
In the past five years I have been stringing professional

events, I have seen several changes in touring pros
stringing habits. As recreational players often follow the
lead of touring pros, I am hoping to see two trends that I
have observed on tour trickle down to the average player.
First, softer string beds. This can be achieved through
a combination of lower (especially below-50-pound)
reference tensions, softer monofilament strings, and more
hybrids (including gut). Second, and related to the first,
more dynamic string beds. This can be achieved through
more frequent restringing. Although these increase the
players stringing expenses, both of these changes will
reduce injury and improve performance, which should be
worth the cost for most.
Steve Wright
Trans Texas Tennis

2014 Builder of the Year
My wish is that player participation will grow on all fronts,

that the USTA will continue and hopefully increase its
work in helping fund facility improvements in all markets,
and that the public institutions (municipalities, school
districts, colleges and universities) will continue their
efforts to build high-quality, multi-court, tournamentlevel facilities as they realize that tennis is not only a great
sport for life, but is also a money-making sport for their
communities and institutions. I also wish for some of the
younger U.S. professional players to have "break-out" years
to stimulate interest in professional tennis.
Allan Iverson
Babolat
2014 Sales Rep of the Year
Id like to see innovative tennis products that will make

tennis even more fun and socially interactive to play.
Products that make tennis easier on the body and help
to connect tennis players are essential. It would be great
to have footwear that not only are the lightest and most
maneuverable shoes, but also have excellent support; new
standards for racquets that create more spin with better
feel and control; string that is more durable yet easy on

the arm. Imagine a device you could wear no matter what
racquet you use that could give you immediate feedback on
your game and allow you to challenge other players with
the results. My hope is that technology can make tennis
easier and connect more people through the sport.
Shima & Joe Grover
Richmond, Va.
2014 Tennis Advocates of the Year
For the new year, wed like to see the Tennis Channel be
as welcome and available to basic cable channel packages
for tennis players everywhere as is the Golf Channel for
golfers. We also would like to see innovative tennis formats
that are easier to learn and less physically demanding
promoted everywhere for new and returning senior
players, comparable to the ROGY approach for kids.
We need to form more neighborhood tennis support
groups to help underfunded public schools and city Park
& Rec Departments clean and maintain neighborhood
courts while also supervising regularly scheduled play for
kids and adults. Wed like to see USTA Adult/Senior League
teams adopt elementary, middle and high schools to assist
coaches with supplies, training, practices and supervision
to build a strong play continuum for kids of all ages. In
addition, it would be great if every public tennis facility had
a godparent that would advocate for it and, if possible,
financially support it. And, here in Richmond, wed like to
see the city and Virginia Commonwealth University build
a major indoor/outdoor tennis complex to broadly serve
public and local university needs while promoting the
legacy of Arthur Ashe.
Adam Queen
Your Serve Tennis

2014 Pro/Specialty Retailer of the Year
In 2016 I would love to see brick-and-mortar specialty

retailers focus on improving customer service and the
shopping experience. As specialty retailers, we are
expected to be the experts. Manufacturers make strides
in improving the quality and functionality of racquets,
shoes and strings and it is our job to educate tennis
players on how these new products can help them on the
court. Creating a better shopping experience will attract
customers to a specialty retailer instead of internet or
big-box retailers where service is not individually tailored.
By focusing on each customer, we as specialty retailers can
help customers find the right equipment for their needs so
that they play their best tennis and enjoy this great game
even more.
TennisIndustry 27
Future of Tennis
Robert Oberrender
Chairman of the Board,

InnerCity Tennis Foundation
2014 Community Tennis Association of the Year
At InnerCity Tennis, as a not for profit organization, we

are hoping to see the continued evolution of our youth
development programming, and an expansion and
deepening in our relationship in the children and youth
we serve. Using tennis as our vehicle to engage with
children and youth, we look forward to more youth tennis
activity each and every day , more volunteers engaging
in helping these youngsters, and engaging in their own
tennis activity, and continuing to grow our supportive
tennis community, all accelerated by our physical
transformation of our tennis facility.
Ellen Miller
Teaching Professional
2014 Grassroots Champion of the Year
My wish for 2016 is plain and simple: Red, Orange,

Green for novice players. Read: No more yellow balls for
beginner youth players under the age of 10. So for all the
ROG hold-outs, please try the low compression balls!
Go do a Coach Youth Tennis Workshop, learn some new
skills and update your teaching delivery. We have such
wonderful training tools in the Red-Orange-Green trilogy
and we can get young players rallying so much quicker
because of it. While you are at it, use these balls with your
adults for fantastic results. We need to grow the game,
right? When players are successful and having fun, they
stick with it and, voila, the game has grown. Be a part of it!
Simon Gale
Owner/GM, Taconic Sports & Racquet

2014 Youth Tennis Provider of the Year
I would love to see kids playing the game and developing

a passion for playing tennis more than taking lessons. So
I guess my wish is that teaching programs encourage
more play opportunities, and get kids playing the
game right away. Other youth sports get them playing
immediately after just one or two practices. We are still
teaching technique for a long time before kids actually
play the game. When you expose what they have trouble
with, they are more inclined to work on it. I believe we can
all grow our tennis business by doing so and at the same
time get them hooked on staying in tennis!
Steve Simon
COO & Tournament Director,

Indian Wells Tennis Garden
2014 Municipal Facility of the Year
On-court in 2016 I am looking forward to watching Roger

and Serena continue their respective journeys to the
discussion of the greatest to have ever played the game,
28 TennisIndustry
continuing to marvel at the athleticism and consistency

of Novak, pulling to see Rafa again challenge to be the best
and seeing if younger players in the game such as Keys,
Muguruza and Sock can take that next step and cement
themselves in the Top 10.
From a BNP Paribas Open and Indian Wells Tennis
Garden perspective, we are looking to continue our
commitment of growth, evolution and improvement
for everything we do. We want our tournament to cater
to fans in new and enhanced ways to make sure their
experience is unparalleledno matter whether this is
the first time or 10th time attending the event. Our facility
showcases the best in the world each March, but we also
want to continue our focus on grassroots efforts, and
recognize the game grows when seeds are planted with
players of all ages. We have big and lofty goals for
our tournament and facility, and 2016 will present
another year to keep pressing on to reach those
aspirations.
Jack Newman
CEO, Austin Tennis Academy

2014 Junior Tennis Champion of the Year
My wish for 2016 is to introduce tennis to the six local elementary schools here through their P.E. classes,
touching 3,000 students, and bringing 5 percent of them
into our development program. Id also like to increase
the number of students in our program attending Level 1
National tournaments from 15 to 25, and to help our local
high school win a state championship in team tennis. I
also wish that college tennis would pick a format and stick
with it. In the pro game, Id like to see young U.S. professional tour players make a big breakthrough at the Grand
Slams in 2016. As the big four pro players move toward
the end of their careers, Id like to see younger champions step forward to take their places and new rivalries
develop at the top of the game.
Marc J. Vecchiolla
Director of Tennis Operations

Mercer County Park Tennis Center
2014 Public Park of the Year
We will continue to grow and introduce a younger

generation to a lifetime sport by expanding our 10 and
Under leaguesespecially since all of our 28 courts
have lines for shorter courts. We will expand the diverse
programming we currently offer to all ages and ability
levels. 2016 will be a big year for us as a new Hall of Fame
class will be inducted. This happens every four years
and the five inductees this year established themselves
as leaders in the tennis industry and outstanding
educators who have advanced the interest in tennis. Their
important contributions to tennis are measured through
their involvement in the sport.
Laurie Martin
P.J. Simmons
As I considered what Id like to see in the coming year, I

found myself reflecting on how many girls we are exposing
to tennis in our program at Xavier College Prep. This fall we
have 93 girls on the freshman team out of a class of 310a 50
percent increase over last years freshman team. The reason
we are getting so many girls involved is we have blended lines
on our courts and use Red, Orange, Green and Yellow balls.
Girls are having success playing the game on shorter courts
with lower pressure ballsand it keeps them interested in
the game.
For 2016, Id like to see every court across America have
blended lines on them. This would allow any player the flexibility to play the game on a court size where they can enjoy
it. In addition, I would love to see high schools have the funding to purchase a supply of the ROG balls. Funding in the high
schools is always very limited, so most schools only purchase
the regular yellow ball, which makes the game challenging for
beginners. Lastly, I wish for programing for all ages and levels
on 36- and 60-foot courts.
This year I was thrilled to see the launch of Play Tennis

Fast, an intro-to-tennis teaching framework designed to
make tennis more welcoming to adult players using the
very techniques that we know work for kids: slower balls
and shorter courts. As someone who knows what it feels
like to start tennis later in life, I can attest to the huge need
for this program and its enormous potential to attract and
create more passionate adult lifers.
Play Tennis Fast will make it easier for those without
strong athletic backgrounds to take the first step and gain
confidence. It will help athletes who played other sports to
experience sooner why tennis is so awesome. And for people
like me who come into tennis deadly serious about being
good players from day one, it will help fast-track progress
by introducing sound fundamentals on which sustained
progress depends. So one of my big wishes for 2016 is that
hundreds of facilities will embrace Play Tennis Fast and creatively experiment with its marketing and implementation.
To that end, The Tennis Congress will launch a nationwide
competition in January that honors the most innovative Play
Tennis Fast program at the 2016 U.S. Tennis Congress.
Head Tennis Coach

Xavier College Prep, Phoenix, Ariz.
2014 High School Coach of the Year
Jeri Ingram
Tennis Director, Washington D.C. Parks & Recreation

2014 Park & Rec Agency of the Year
For next year, Id like to see a larger number of Park and Recreation organizations carry a full pathway for development
and competition for tennis players. Id also want a larger allocation of Player Development resources to go to NJTL and
CTA programs that develop players who are at a place in their
development where Player Development becomes necessary for their next level of success. We need a more efficient
process for capturing Play Day participants and their demographic details, in addition to a more diverse offering of Play
Days as they pertain to participant demographics regarding where they are in the tennis pathway. Id also like to see
an extended portfolio of competitive and non-competitive
activities for participants at Play Days.
Paul Walker
Player and Coach

2014 Wheelchair Tennis Champion of the Year
In 2016 I'd love to see the continued growth of our Junior

Wheelchair tennis program. 2015 saw them win a world
championship at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup. All three
members of that teamChris Herman, Casey Ratzlaff and
Connor Stroudhave massive potential in the sport. 2016 is
also a Paralympic year, and the best players in the USA will
be competing for gold in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I wish all our
players luck, and just as much I wish the player who has yet
to discover this great sport a speedy path to something that
can change his or her life forever!
Founder, The Tennis Congress

2014 Innovative Tennis Event of the Year
Nigel Pugh
Director of Tennis, City of Fremont, Calif.

2014 PTR Member of the Year
My wish for 2016 is for continued development in the certification process, enhancing the quality of certified
tennis teaching professionals throughout the country. PTR
has done an amazing job providing certifications that are
tailored to a specific player group, which has provided potential coaches with a solid knowledge that can be immediately
utilized.
Rob Scott
Executive Director, USTA Intermountain

2014 USTA Section of the Year
I wish for the tennis manufacturers to become more involved

in supporting grassroots programming (10 and Under Tennis, Play Days, locally branded Junior Team Tennis, High
School tennis, Millennial programming, such as 2.5 Initiative and Sets in the City, etc.). This is where brand loyalty is
formed! Manufacturers are missing out by being so focused
on direct ROI. I also hope that the USTA National Leadership
will continue to strive for collaboration with the Sections and
not dictate policy. We are 17 unique business models. I also
wish for the Intermountain Section to continue our efforts
to grow the bottom and middle of the junior pyramid (entryand mid-level players) and not focus so much on the top 1
percent to 5 percent.
TennisIndustry 29
Footwear
Mixing It Up
Tennis shoe manufacturers are creating opportunities
with a complex balance that includes changes in the
game, available technologies and new fashions.
By Kent Oswald
he tennis shoe market is complex and likely to get more

so. There is ever-greater pressure to control inventories
at all levels in a way that both minimizes financial
investment and maximizes the ability to satisfy customers
who have internet access to worldwide information and sales
possibilities.
Tennis specialty stores sold more than a million pairs in 2014
for nearly $100 million (.7% and 3.3% increases, respectively),
according to Sports Marketing Surveys/Tennis Industry
Association figures. Results for the first two quarters of 2015
(latest available at press time) show a 1.3% increase in units
sold, but a negative 1.1% in dollars received, compared to the
same period in the previous year. Shoes below $85 account for
about 29% of those sales, with those priced above $115 adding
up to about 27% of the market.
Manufacturers continue to search for the magical logarithm
that perfectly balances the changes in the game (recently a

University of Sheffield team began working with the ITF to
easily measure how much friction players create when sliding
on all courts, particularly hard ones), available technologies,
and the needs of fashion that send designers adventuring ever
deeper into the Pantone palette. Additionally, there is no longer
a specific season for product introductions: shoes are rolled
out as series extensions throughout the year as manufacturers
(and retailers) adapt on the fly to a fluid marketplace.
Paired with the complexity is opportunity. There is
consumer interest in ethical and recycled footwear yet to be
fully investigated, and a welcome embrace for the retro Stan
Smith, Jack Purcell and Fred Perry series suggests that new
markets await, including the potential of an unexploited area
for tennis kicks in a new niche collectibles market. Upcoming
highlights (all prices are suggested retail) include:
ADIDAS
Keeping with the changing marketplace, the latest offerings of new technologies
and colorways in Barricades and Adizeros will be revealed throughout the year
rather than in one big splash. First up will be the Barricade 2016 Boost (suggested
retail $160), which debuts in January as the foundation of Jo-Wilfried Tsongas
game. In this iteration, the shoe, which was a Tennis Magazine Editors Choice
for 2015, gets not just an eye-catching new skin color but also the technology in
the heel that adds a greater energy return to the continuing attributes of robust
stability, comfort and durability.
adidas.com 971-234-2300
ASICS
Two stories to be shared in 2016 are the GEL-Solution Speed 3 ($130) and the GEL
Court Bella for women ($100). As are all its tennis shoe offerings, these are built on
the companys time- and mileage-tested running shoe lasts. The former is updated
with three new style options for both men and women and has been tweaked to shave
a bit of weight and add a touch more flexibility. The latter is an extremely lightweight
(9.2 oz.), comfortable option for women with a low profile offered in two different
stylings. Sales support for both will include in-store support and staff incentives;
print, online and social media programs; and seasonal introductions and special
editions of each series designed to rally attention across the brand.
asicsamerica.com 800-678-9435
30 TennisIndustry
BABOLAT
Babolats Propulse All Court ($120) for men continues as a sturdy and durable option.
For the new year, it features new colorways (including special edition themes
labeled Stars & Stripes, Skull & Bones and Aero). Players who in the past may
not have found the shoe a fit for their game may take comfort in the option of a wider
fit shoe, which adds to the slightly more robust toe box that has been part of the shoe
since last year.
babolat.com 877-316-9435
DIADORA
The Italian sportswear company achieved acceptance and accolades for its reintroduction of footwear into the North American marketplace. With a distribution network
established, the next step is make more noise, which the company says it will do with
the planned announcement for 2016 of the signing of a bold-faced name on both the
ATP and WTA tours. The mens and womens 2016 S.Star Ks ($139) with signature
kangaroo uppers and S.Pro EVOs ($119) will reach store shelves prior to the first ball in
Melbourne. Neither series will offer significant tweaks to the just-introduced technologies, but both will feature new, more dramatic colorways. In support of the expected
announcement, marketing will continue with in-store support and an emphasis on
seeding the product with influencers.
diadora.com 800-768-4727
FILA
The new Cage Delirium ($100) is the featured footwear for Filas 2016. The shoes are
boldly colored in ways that tie back to the brands apparel lines. The shoe is designed
for stability, flexibility and comfort, with high-stress areas reinforced for durability.
In addition to the hard-court version, the shoe also is available in clay court, grass
court and XT outsole options.
fila.com 800-845-FILA
K-SWISS
The California company marks its 50th anniversary in 2016 via a 50 LOVE
campaign celebrating lifestyle aspects of the brand across primary and secondary
consumer marketing platforms. Specific to tennis, the Hypercourt ($130) for both
men and women has a slightly tweaked new midsole composition and new colorways
launching for the Australian Open. The shoes will be highlighted as part of the
companys 100% Tennis Initiative, a marketing program to reinforce for players
how much the sport is an integral part of the companys DNA.
kswiss.com 800-768-472
WILSON
Embracing changes taking place in hard-court play, Wilson unveils widespread

distribution of its Glide ($200) in March 2016. The shoes soft launch came through
availability at select tennis academies and consumer sales at the 2015 US Open. The
goal for R&D was to find an effective balance of slide and traction for players on hard
courts. From that starting point the companys R&D folks added to the shoes support
and stability, as well as reinforcing the shoe in high-wear areas.
wilson.com 773-714-6400
TennisIndustry 31
Racquet Sports
C O U RT E S Y S P I R I T P R O M O T I O N S
Pickleball
and Tennis:
Can They
Be Friends?
Insiders say the explosive growth of pickleball can be
a positive for the tennis marketif tennis lets it.
By Mary Helen Sprecher
ports that are skyrocketing in popularity can

usually point to a youthful, testosterone-fueled
athlete base and a bucket-list appeal (were
looking at you, obstacle racing.) But when was
the last time a sport absolutely exploded off
the charts because of an aging demographic that couldnt get
enough of it?
Not before, and not until, pickleball. And with 68% of all its
players over 60 years of age and more players coming in every
day, its sneaking up on the tennis market.
Not that anyone in the industry really wants to admit that.
Its gaining, says consultant Doug Cash succinctly. There
are more than 2 million people playing it today. In a few years,
we expect there to be 8 million. Its gaining popularity and its
gaining players.
The paddle sport with the funny namethe one that took
hold in the Sun Belt and migrated north and east as snowbirds
came homeis here to stay and poised for even more growth.
According to the Sports & Fitness Associations 2015 Participation Report, pickleball participation is at 2.46 million.
Because it has so many skills compatible with those of tennis,
its smaller courts, underhand strokes and slower balls are
finding favor among baby boomers who spent their previous
decades hitting overhead smashes and charging the netand
who now want to stay active and competitive, despite their
limitations.
Pickleball combines many elements of tennis, badminton
32 TennisIndustry
and ping-pong. Played indoors or outdoors with a paddle and

a plastic ball, the court is the same size as a doubles badminton court, 20 by 44 feet. (In pickleball, the same court is used
for both singles and doubles play.) The court is striped similar
to a tennis court with left and right service courts, but there
is a 7-foot zone in front of the net, called the kitchen, that
players are not allowed to volley from.
A Threat to Tennis?
But is pickleball really a threat to tennis? Cash is willing to be

blunt. I think the USTA is afraid of pickleball. Theyre worried about it possibly taking tennis players. He pauses. It
probably is and will do that.
But, says Terri Graham, it doesnt have to be an all-or-nothing equation. Graham, whose company, Spirit Promotions,
is producing the 2016 US Open Pickleball Championships,
understands the demographic appeal of the sport. But then
again, having previously spent more than two decades at
Wilson, she has had the opportunity to view the seismic shifts
in both tennis and pickleball.
I started hearing the pickleball buzz at Wilson about six or
seven years ago, and it has only grown since then, she says.
Thousands of people are entering that game every month.
One unique key to pickleballs appeal, she adds, is that its
players are evangelists for the sport.
You can walk up to any place in the country where pickleball is being played. You can show up without a paddle,
C O U RT E S Y U S A P I C K L E B A L L A S S O C I AT I O N
I was on the phone with a friend in Chicago, Cash says.

He is trying to push pickleball there because he has seen the
growth. His goal is to have a standalone pickleball club.
Its not a pipe dream. In a 2014 interview, Maloof stated that
USAPA measured the growth of the sport according to the addition of what it called "places to play," which included not only
designated pickleball facilities (which are growing in number)
but tennis, badminton or other courts
that were being used for pickleballin addition to lines painted on
playgrounds or gymnasium floors,
as well as rec centers nationwide. At
the time, the USAPA was recording
upwards of 44 new places to play
per month. That number has only
increased since then.
For now, Graham encourages clubs
to schedule play for both groups, and
to take advantage of the opportunity
to bring in new members by publicizing those opportunities. Tennis
is an awesome sport, she says. No
question. But you dont want to say to
someone who has played until theyre
60 and now has hip or knee or shoulder problems, Well, you cant play
tennis any longer so you shouldnt
play anything. Go sit down. You want
people to stay active. You want people
to stay healthy.
Pickleball, she notes, is the key to
that longevity and part of the fitness continuum. And it only
stands to grow. After all, the things tennis, racquetball and
squash now havethe teaching certifications, the professional
associations and the pro tourshave not even been implemented for pickleball. Not yet, anyway.
Were just in the first inning of an extra-innings baseball
game, Graham says. The sport is so young and were so early
in our growth. There is still so far to go.
C O U RT E S Y S P I R I T P R O M O T I O N S
without a ball, without any equipment, and I guarantee you

someone is going to come over and hand you a paddle and say,
Here, come on and try this. And youll get hooked, she says.
According to Justin Maloof, executive director of the USA
Pickleball Association, its a model of recruitment the USAPA
is encouraging. The organization has what is called Ambassadors, people who are really enthusiastic, whose job it is to
hold demos and clinics and help get
people introduced to and interested
in the sport.
And once those players are in,
adds Graham, clubs can and should
welcome them. There is room for
tennis players and pickleball players. I tell clubs, You have tennis
courts. You have people who play
tennis in the mornings and people
who play in the evenings. If youd
put pickleball lines on a couple
courts, they could be used when the
tennis players arent on them.
This, however, is a point of friction. Currently, the only lines that
are supposed to be on tennis courts
are tennis lines. Lines for 36- and
60-foot play can be added to tennis
courts, but they must adhere to
certain standards concerning color,
spacing and width.
Its too bad pickleball courts
arent the same size as the kids
courts, says Cash. That would have solved some problems.
As a side note, its not uncommon to see lines for a variety
of sports on private and recreational tennis courts. However,
whether a club will do the same depends upon the level of play
it hosts and sometimes, the mindset of its pros and players.
But as the demand for court time grows, more parks are
building designated pickleball courts and more clubs are considering doing the same.
TennisIndustry 33
Cardio Tennis
Numbers
Game
Dont have the numbers yet for an ideal Cardio
Tennis session? You can still create a great CT
experience for your players, which will quickly grow
your classesand your profits.
By Ted Murray
ardio Tennis is ideally designed for six to

eight players per court, since its very social,
with games-based sessions. With six to eight,
its also easier to integrate any differences in
ability levels of your participants.
But sometimes, you may end up with five players or fewer,
especially if youre just starting your Cardio Tennis program. Or, you may be like meI try to keep my class running
outdoors throughout the Colorado winters, and I have a few
die-hards who show up no matter what, even if it requires
shoveling snow from the courts! During these winter months,
though, I seldom have more than four participants a session.
So, does having five or fewer players mean you cant run a
Cardio Tennis session? Not at all. You simply need to adapt to
smaller numbersand in fact, this ability to adapt can be your
key to growing your program.
For example: Lets say youre teaching at a resort and have a
drop-in program, but you stick to a rule that you must have
at least four people in the class, thinking that at $15 per person, you can make the equivalent of a $60 private lesson. On
Monday, a couple shows up, but is disappointed because, with
only two people, you cancel the drop-in clinic. On Tuesday, a
family of three comes down, but again the clinic is canceled.
On Wednesday, another couple is disappointed. The end
result? A lousy program, and no one returns.
But, if you had welcomed all of them, then by Wednesday
you would have had a dedicated class of seven participants.
34 TennisIndustry
And by the end of the week, for five hours on the court, you
would have taken in at least $420 from those seven participantsand probably more once they rave about the program
to their friends and other guests.
So being able to adapt and run Cardio Tennis for smaller
groups can prove beneficial for your business.
Of course, whether for eight people or four, to be Cardio
Tennis it must still incorporate six key components:
1. The three segments: Warm-up, Cardio (games and
drills), cool down
2. Music
3. Heart rate monitoring
4. Use of Cardio balls
5. Agility ladder: the ultimate Cardio Blast
6. The right professional to lead the class
Youre the Key to Success
Success in small group Cardio Tennis depends almost entirely

on you, the professional. Not only do you need to set the tone
with your high energy, but you will almost always have to play
in on a number of the games and control the pace with your
own playing skills.
The segments of the class that require the least amount
of adjustment are the warm-up and cool-downs. Since most
warm-up and cool-down activities are based in pairs, this is
quite simple.
Because the bigger challenge with small groups is knowDoubles can all be played half court with four or fewer playing the appropriate games to play, a pro will often spend the
ers. Games like Rainmaker, 32, and 7-Up can be played with
majority of time focusing on drills. While this may make sense,
five. Keep in mind when you have five or less for games, Cardio
it will limit the fun and engagement of the class. It also might
Blasts will not be as prevalent.
seem easier for you as the pro, but
We typically do not recomremember, its not about you. The
mend playing games with serves
curriculum for Cardio Tennis is 70
in Cardio Tennis because it slows
percent games-based and 30 perthings down. However, with a small
cent drill-based. You should stick as To access all Signature Cardio Tennis Games and
group, there is now an opportunity.
activities, CTTV, the Cardio Tennis Triples Playbook For example, this cooperative/
close to this as you can.
The key to the drill portion is
competitive game incorporates the
and the Cardio Tennis Games Competition
to ensure there is no running for
serve, return and volley: Two pairs
Playbook, register as an Authorized Provider (AP).
the sake of running. Everything in
cooperate to reach a target number
APs receive many benefits that can help grow
Cardio Tennis has a purpose, and
of points before the other pair. One
their business, including exclusive equipment
that includes touches on the ball.
player on each team serves and
and product discounts, access to Cardio Tennis
Make sure players are hitting lots of
volleys. If the pair is successful in
drills, marketing and promotional materials,
practical shots.
hitting the serve, return and first
research, and much more. To register as an AP,
As in all Cardio Tennis, the agilvolley crosscourt they get one point
see the schedule of Cardio Tennis training events
ity ladder should be used when
and the person who received now
held throughout the country and much more for
appropriate, however with smaller
serves the next ball. Everyone stays
providers, visit CardioTennis.com.
numbers there might not be time
engaged and active while practicfor the ladder. You dont want to
ing a valuable doubles skill in a
completely kill your participants! It
controlled environment.
is really easy to blast them way over their target heart rate.
When you use the Signature Cardio Tennis Games and some
Remember, this is safe Cardio Tennisnot boot camp! Allow
creativity, you will keep your classes safe, engaged, active, and
your players to recover to their target heart-rate zone before
most important, having fun, no matter how few or how many
moving to the next segment.
participants you have. When your energy and enthusiasm
increase when only a few people show up, youll soon find your
classes will grow, and in no time your problem will be when to
How do you come up with creative and stimulating games?
add more classes or keep the wait-list people happy. unless
Weve done that for you. If youre an Authorized Provider, you
you happen to be teaching in the snow!
have access to more than 50 Signature Cardio Tennis Games
and the Cardio Tennis TV channel. Often a good segue from
Ted Murray has been on the Cardio Tennis Training
drills to games is live hitting or cooperative competition games.
Team since its inception in 2005. He has lived and
(A great game for four, for example, is Brazilian Bingo, where
taught in eight countries while coaching juniors like
you have cooperative hitting until one of the two balls is missed
Leander Paes and Gigi Fernandez, owned a tennis
and then it becomes a competitive doubles point.)
& fitness club in Florida, and is the co-author of the
Any number of champion/challenger options is available
book Tennis Unlimited. His most recent book, a tennis novel, is
as well. Many Signature Cardio Tennis Games for six to eight
Tennis from the Heart: Pursuing the Dream. You can contact
players can be tweaked for five or less just by playing half the
him at ted@TennisFromTheHeart.com or visit him personally
court. Games like Desperate Housewives, Intense, and Recover in Boulder, Colo.
Become a Cardio Tennis

Authorized Provider!
Program Creativity Pays
TennisIndustry 35
Equipment
Getting
a Grip!
Having the right grips and overgrips are crucial to not
only good performance, but also to the players health.
By Bob Patterson
or as long as the game has been around, the

grip has played an important role. After all,
if the player cant hold onto the racquet, it
is hard to make a good stroke at the ball, let
alone control the shot.
In the early tennis racquets, all manner of grip shapes
and sizes were tried, from bulbous ends to flared shapes
and cork inlays. Sometime in the 1930s, the leather wrap
was introduced, and by the end of that decade all racquets
included a leather grip of some sort.
It is hard to imagine playing the game without a decent
grip on the racquet these days. But if you speak to any racquet
technician, they will tell you it is still a very neglected item
on most players racquets. Walk into any pro shop and take a
look at the grips on the racquets that are waiting to be strung
and you will likely find a sordid messeverything from grips
as slick as glass to those in such a state of decay that you
would not want to touch it. We all know that most players go
too long between restringing, but why are the grips so totally
neglected?
This neglect has always been an enigma to me, especially
since on the pro circuit the grip is so important to most
players. It has to be carefully wrapped in a certain way,
starting at the exact same place and with the exact same
overlap. Many pros even pay big bucks to have the handle
itself custom-molded so there are no discrepancies in the way
the handle of each racquet feels in their hand. This makes a
lot of sense since that grip is the only connection between the
player and the racquet.
Whether a pro player or a recreational player, having a grip
that is the correct size and with sufficient tack is crucial to not
36 TennisIndustry
only good performance, but also to the players health. A grip

that is too small or too large requires the player to squeeze
tighter and puts a lot more stress on the wrist, forearm and
elbow. The same is true if the grip material is worn and
slippery.
Most recreational players can appreciate and feel the difference when their ragged grip is replaced with a fresh one. But
as with most things involved with racquet service for recreational players, it is up to the racquet technician to educate
players on the importance of a good grip. (For more on how to
replace a grip, see Racquet Tech on page 18).
For most players today, the grip is actually two grips: A
replacement grip and an overgrip.
REPLACEMENT GRIPS
As the name implies, this grip is the base and replaces the grip
that came installed from the factory. Most grips today are
made of a synthetic material, although some players prefer
the old-school feel of a leather grip, which are still readily
available.
Since many players use an overgrip, the replacement grip
may be considered as a base material. If the player is using
an overgrip, the hand wont be in direct contact with the grip
surface, so it will likely last much longer than if the player
used no overgrip. Generally, the sweat and oil from our hands
are the main detriment to the grip, causing the grip to lose its
tack and therefore its utility, necessitating replacement.
Most synthetic grips offer various levels of cushioning. As
the player grips the racquet, this cushioning compresses and
will eventually lose its usefulness and need to be replaced.
This is one reason many pros opt for leather gripsso that the
base grip stays more uniform and

stable, although it may not be very
cushioning.
There are hundreds of variations
on grips, from smooth to perforated
to those with raised ribs. There will
also be variations in the amount of
cushioning, as well as the tackiness
of the material. It is really a personal
preference as to which grip type
works best for a certain player. You
should offer a good variety of grip
types to satisfy various preferences.
OVERGRIPS
As the name implies, this is a thin

material that is applied over the base
grip to provide a clean, fresh surface
without having to replace the base
grip. These are almost a necessity
in humid or warm climates. Pro
players put on a fresh grip every
time they play; recreational players
wont. But this is what overgrips
were designed for: They offer an
easy alternative to having to replace
the grip so often.
Most overgrips come in a threepack and are a fraction of the cost of
a replacement grip. This is a perfect
selling point to get players to take
advantage of using overgrips and
the importance of changing them
frequently. Larger packs of 10 to 30
overgrips bring the per-unit cost
down even further.
As with base grips, overgrips
have a wide variety of choices to
suit every need, from dry absorbent
material to a tacky surface.
There are also choices of texture,
perforations and, of course, colors.
A great way to get your customers
to appreciate the feel of a fresh grip
surface is to include a free overgrip
with every string job. Know their
preference and install a fresh wrap
each time you string. You should
also be willing to provide a quick
tutorial on how to install an overgrip
properly to encourage them to
install a new one frequently. If they
arent interested in learning or
cant quite get the hang of it, offer
to install it for them at no charge.
This will increase their visits to your
shop and play a large role in overall
customer satisfaction.
Withstanding the Test of Time

Lets face it, products in our industry are on the fast track and few hang
around for more than a year or two before being replaced with something
new and improved. But two products in the grip category have defied the
odds and have been around for decades.
Tourna Grip Overgrip

A product that was developed through extensive materials research and
playtesting in the grueling humid conditions of Atlanta, Ga., in the early
1970s, when racquets were transitioning from wood to metal and composites,
is still one of the most popular overgrips
today on the pro tours, as well as at your
local courts. Tourna Grip is known as a dry
grip that absorbs moisture and provides
reliable traction when players need it
most.
With a tagline the light blue grip
that does not slip, Tourna Grips
distinguished, trademarked color can
be seen on the racquets of many of the
pros, both past and present. Although the
company has introduced new grips over the years to meet the needs of those
who prefer a more tacky feel, the original Tourna Grip has stood the test of
time.
Gamma Hi-Tech Replacement Grip

This replacement grip has also been around for decades and was the first
synthetic grip I remember showing up on the handles of the pros. While
Gamma has introduced a wide variety of
grips since the Hi-Tech, including variations
of the Hi-Tech itself, the original is still the
companys bestseller.
Its firm feel and tacky surface make it
a favorite, and the old-school skiving, or
cutting, allows the grip to be installed in
various ways, much like a leather grip. If the
skiving is overlapped in alignment, the grip
surface comes out very smooth and uniform. If the overlap is decreased, the results
will be a bit of a groove that allows the fingers to settle in as the player grips
the handle. The fact that it has been around so long and is still the most popular grip in the Gamma line is a testimony to quality and great design. B.P.
TennisIndustry 37
Tips and Techniques

Readers' Know-How in Action
Wilson n190 Stringing
A customer experienced premature

string breakage in his Wilson n190
racquetball racquet. The reason, as
the first photo shows, is due to the
grommet splitting at a shared hole,
exposing the sharp edge of the frame
at the grommet hole to the string. The
grommet had recently been replaced,
but with the shared holes and the
design of the grommet, it is a common
occurrence for the grommet to split.
To prevent this from repeating,
when I installed the new grommet
I sliced the shared grommets at 8H
and 10H at 90 degrees offset from the
strings. As the second photo shows,
even with the grommet split, there will
still be protection between the string
and the frame.
Another thing I do with these
racquets to minimize breakage is prestringing all the through the handle
strings prior to mounting the frame
on my stringing machine. This helps
38 TennisIndustry
Grommet Lube
me avoid crossing the strings in the

handle.
5 sets of Babolat Origin 17 to:
Bill and Kathy Sommers
Apple Valley, MN
I started stringing in 1963, and from

the beginning I strung a lot of natural gut. I still string a
decent amount of gut
to this day.
With wooden
racquets and natural
gut strings, I never
had any issues with
a framed (shanked)
shot causing the
gut to snap near the
frame like todays
racquets do, as those
wooden racquets
had rather large,
wide, smooth holes
instead of grommets,
so friction through those areas was
minimal.
To extend the life of natural gut in
these situations, I place a small drop
of Tri-Flow Superior Lubricant on
the grommets at the 2, 4, 8, and 10
oclock positions, using the

pinpoint tip. As a result, I
no longer see premature
breakage. It seems to
me this lube reduces the
friction enough to allow
the natural gut to survive
shanked shots.
The only drawback is
that now I need to clean
clamps more frequently,
but thats no big deal, as
everyone is happier.
5 sets of Tourna Big Red
16 to:
James Elkovitch, Auburn,
NY
Greg Raven
Tips and Techniques
submitted since 1992 by
USRSA members and
appearing in this column
have all been gathered into
a searchable database on
www.racquettech.com,
the official member only
website of the USRSA.
Submit tips to: Greg Raven,
USRSA, PO Box 3392,
Duluth, GA 30096 or email
greg @racquettech.com.
Introducing: Tennis Reel Maximizer
For each of the more than 10,000 racquets in the USRSAs Stringers
Digest listing, you will find the lengths of string you need to cut to restring
the racquet on which you are working. As critical as this information is
for the successful completion of the restringing operation, it doesnt specifically take into account differences in the machine being used, nor does
it help you get the most value out of a reel of string.
Now, the Tennis Reel Maximizer, a new IOS and Android app, takes into
account each of these factors and allows you to optimize measurements.
Designed for anyone who strings from reels, and developed by Mark
Braksator, Tennis Reel Maximizer allows you to create your own database
of racquets and reels of string, enter the distance from the edge of the
racquet to the tension head, and then calculate the exact amount of string
needed. At the same time, Tennis Reel Maximizer tells you how many
times you will be able to string that particular racquet with that particular string, and how much the string cost is for that much string, based on
the cost and length of the original reel. Tennis Reel Maximizer also shows
how many extra string jobs you got out of the reel by optimizing your
string lengths.
Once you calculate the amount of string needed, you cut the string
from the reel, and Tennis Reel Maximizer subtracts that much from the string remaining on that reel, so you always know where you are, making reordering a cinch. There are
even Buy and Reorder buttons right in the app.
Another neat trick arises out of Tennis Reel Maximizers accurate string-length calculations, as having the exact string measurements means you can reduce the length of the
string tails. The extreme example of this is cutting the string so that it extends just far
enough beyond the frame on the last main or cross, and then using a bridge clamp to reach
the tension head.
To see Tennis Reel Maximizer in action, search YouTube for the video. The app is available on the App Store and Google Play for $7.99. Greg Raven
TennisIndustry 39
String Playtest
By Greg Raven
from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind tests, with

playtesters receiving unmarked strings
in unmarked packages. Average number
of hours playtested was 17.4.
Out of the box, M7 feels to be a soft
multifilament nylon with a polyurethane
coating. Reinforcing this is the slight
telltale polyurethane crunch during
clamping. Our sample set felt thin,
alerting us that we needed to adjust our
clamps before starting installation.
No playtester broke the sample during
stringing, one reported problems with
coil memory, none reported problems
tying knots, one reported friction burn,
and none reported other problems.
On the Court
Babolat M7 17
Babolat M7 is an innovative string with a new multifilament
construction that provides power, comfort and durability.
According to Babolat, the seven 100 percent polyamide
monofilaments and innovative matrix of polyamide and
polyurethane provide a longer lifespan and high level of comfort.
The manufacturer says M7 is for players who rarely break
strings and are looking for power and comfort.
M7 is available in 16 and 17 gauges in Natural only. It is priced
from $13 for 40-foot sets, and $189 for 660-foot (200-meter) reels.
For more information or to order, contact Babolat at 877-3169435, or visit babolat.com. Be sure to read the conclusion for more
information about getting a free set to try for yourself.
In the Lab
We tested the 17-gauge M7. The coil measured 40 feet. The diameter measured
1.27 mm prior to stringing, and 1.20 mm after stringing. We recorded a stringbed
stiffness of 78 RDC units immediately after stringing at 60 pounds in a Wilson Pro
Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern) on a constant-pull machine.
After 24 hours (no playing), stringbed stiffness measured 71 RDC units,
representing a 9 percent tension loss. Our control string, Prince Synthetic Gut
Original 16 (Gold), measured 84 RDC units immediately after stringing and 77
RDC units after 24 hours, representing a 9 percent tension loss. In lab testing,
Prince Synthetic Gut Original 16 (Gold) has a stiffness of 217 and a tension loss of
11.67 pounds, while Babolat M7 17 has a stiffness of 157 and a tension loss of 15.01
pounds. M7 17 added 13.9 grams to the weight of our unstrung frame.
The string was tested for five weeks by 36 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP ratings
40 TennisIndustry
Our testers loved the Comfort of Babolat

M7, rating it second only to natural gut
in that category. They also rated M7
17th in the Power category and 20th in
Touch/Feel. They found the Tension
Retention to be well above average, and
the Playability to be excellent.
Two playtesters reported premature
Playtester Ratings
Ease of Stringing
(compared to other strings)
much easier
somewhat easier
about as easy
not quite as easy
not nearly as easy
5
18
12
1
0
Overall Playability
(compared to the string played most often)
much better
somewhat better
about as playable
not quite as playable
not nearly as playable
3
11
6
10
5
Overall Durability
(compared to other strings of similar gauge)
much better
somewhat better
about as durable
not quite as durable
not nearly as durable
0
4
10
14
7
Rating Averages
From 1 to 5 (best)
Playability
Durability
Power (17th overall)
Control
Comfort (2nd overall)
Touch/Feel (20th overall)
Spin Potential
Holding Tension
Resistance to Movement
3.7
2.7
3.6
3.3
4.2
3.6
2.8
3.4
2.6
Playtester
Comments
"A wonderfully comfortable string
with a good amount of power.
5.0 male all-court player using Yonex
Vcore si strung at 62 pounds CP (Head
Hawk/Head Synthetic Gut PPS 18/16)
"Great comfort string. Very unique
slippery surface. I would love the
opportunity to string this in a hybrid!
4.5 male touch player using Prince Tour
T strung at 55 pounds CP (Genesis Black
Magic 17)
Very easy to string. Lubricated coating plus slight rough coating made
fraying or peeling, one reported

buzzing, and 15 reported notching.
Thirteen of the testers broke the
sample during the playtest period, one
each at 1, 2, 3, 3.5, 6, 7, 10, 15, 16, 17, 20,
25 and 30 hours.
Conclusion
Both the ratings and the comments from

our playtest team agree that Babolat
got both the comfort and power they
were aiming for when designing M7,
and there are plenty of players out
there looking for a string with just these
characteristics.
If you think Babolat M7 might be for
you, fill out the coupon to get a free set to
try. Greg Raven

for easy weaving. Very

stretchy. Playing-wise,
I had lots of power with
this string. Good pop
on the serve, volleys
were good. A bit too
much power from the
baseline unless I put
some spin on the ball.
4.0 male all-court player
using Wilson Steam S
strung at 60 pounds CP
(Luxilon ALU Power/Gamma TNT2 16/16)
Great playing string,
easy on the arm.
using Babolat Pure Drive
(Babolat Origin 16)
String felt very lively
for the first 10 to 15
hours. Good power,
and spin potential. Lost
significant tension before 20-hour mark.
3.5 male baseliner with
heavy spin using Prince O3

White strung at 58 pounds
CP (Ytex Square X/Ytex
Touch 16L/16)
Although I generally
liked the test string,
I felt my consistency,
and therefore control,
suffered somewhat.
Perhaps the fact that
the mains had no ridges
caused unwanted
string movement and
contributed to the perceived lack of control.
using Head Prestige PWR
(Gamma Moto 17)
Good string. Very easy
to install. Not crazy
how fast the string
notched after installation. Nice control, not
much spin potential.
Enjoyed the test.
using Wilson Six One

(Wilson NXT 16)
I was not really impressed with the string.
Playability was OK, but
it lacked the feel.
using Babolat Aero Pro Lite
(Solinco Tour Bite Soft 17)
Tension loss was apparent within the first
2 hours of play. Hard
on the arm, and no
control.
4.0 female all-court
player using Babolat Pure
Drive strung at 60 pounds
CP (Natural Gut 17)
(Strings normally used by
testers are indicated in
parentheses. For the rest
of the tester comments,
visit www.tennisindustrymag.com.)
FREE PLAYTEST STRING PROGRAM

Babolat will send a free set of M7 17
to the USRSA members who cut out
(or copy) this coupon and send it to:
USRSA, Attn: Babolat String Offer
PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096
or fax to 760-536-1171,
or email the info below to
stringsample@racquettech.com
Offer expires 15 Nov 2015 Offer only
available to USRSA members in the US.
Name: __________________________
USRSA Member number: ___________
Phone: _________________________
Email: __________________________
If you print your email clearly, we will
notify you when your sample will be
sent.
TennisIndustry 41
Your Serve
Closing the Gaps
By finding and training adult players, we can

increase the number of core players we have.
By Kevin Theos
ow can our efforts lead to

an increase in core tennis
players? (Core players play
at least 10 times a year and account
for 90 percent of total expenditures
in the sport.) Part of the answer lies
in creating large-scale programs that
directly address gaps in our delivery
system.
Any program that aspires to result in
a long-term and impactful increase in
the number of dedicated tennis players
must have several qualities. The first
is maximum accessibility. People in
every community should have access
to tennis programs. Moreover, since
most people have little or no experience
with tennis and limited disposable
income, these programs should cater to
beginners and be reasonably priced.
A related but slightly different quality
is that of providing players with the
greatest chance of getting hooked on
tennis as quickly as possible. We live
in an instant-gratification culture and
the basic appeal of tennis comes from
the enjoyment people get from being
able to successfully rally. It is crucial for
players to attain some level of skill in
rallying very quickly.
But while the fun that players experience from rallying is what initially
captures them, it is the relationships
they develop along the way that keeps
them playing. This is why immediately introducing players to family- or
league-based play opportunities is so
important. People need to feel part of a
tennis community, even if it is a small
one, in order for them to continue playing long-term.
The ability to find and keep program
organizers is pivotal to the success of
42 TennisIndustry
any program. Traditionally, we have relied on volunteers and tennis teaching

pros to drive program success. But good
volunteers are often difficult to find
and we never know how long they will
volunteer, and teaching pros frequently
have wide-ranging commitments that
prevent them from fully engaging with
new programs and initiatives.
While teaching pros and volunteers
will always play central roles in
introducing new players to tennis and
providing ongoing play opportunities
to more experienced players, we need
to look to other groups to assist with
efforts to increase tennis participation.
One such group is adult players.
Many adult players have just the
mix of motivation, circumstances
and skills to operate introductory
tennis programs. They want to give
back to tennis, but arent interested in
volunteering. They want to earn a little
from their efforts, but they dont need
the money. They want to devote a little
time each week to helping get other
players in the game, but they dont want
to sacrifice their own tennis time. They
know how to play tennis, but they lack
the knowledge and skillset of teaching
professionals.
By finding and training adult players in how to work with large groups
of beginners, setting up programs for
them to operate, and then referring
participants to certified teaching pros
for more in-depth instruction, we can
make a difference in the number of core
players we have. This is already happening in here in Alabama.
Helena, Ala., is a middle-class community that has four tennis courts
and limited tennis participation.
Laurie Mayson is a league player who

received training and runs a low-cost,
beginner-level Junior Team Tennis program, now in its third season.
Laurie is just one of numerous adult
players who are making the program
successful throughout the state, and
there are breathtaking possibilities for
adding more sites in the years to come
since the program targets locations
with available court capacity such as
public parks.
Whether other programs follow this
exact model is unimportant. What
matters is that programs are widely
available, focus on beginners, are at a
reasonable cost, emphasize helping
players swiftly develop rallying skills
and relationships, and perhaps most
importantly, are set up in a way that
helps us recruit and retain program
organizers.
More than being a wish list, the
Alabama experiment is proving it is
possible to create successful programs
with these qualities. If similar programs begin to emerge around the
country, we have the potential to set in
motion a phenomenal and welcomed
upturn in the number of core tennis
players we have.
Kevin Theos is the USTA
Southern Tennis Service
Representative for Alabama.
He serves on the USPTA
Southern Division executive
committee and is the former
executive director of the Birmingham
Area Tennis Association. He can be
reached at theos@sta.usta.com.
We welcome your opinions. Please email
comments to TI@racquetTECH.com.
Inside this issue

The True Warrior 50
USPTA World Conference
Wrap Up 54
Remembering Rich 65
Departments:
63 Inside Coaching
44 CEOs Message
46 Vice Presidents Message 64 Master Pro Corner
66 Career Development
48 Endorsee News
68 Member News
50 Beyond the Court
Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
On the cover: Jorge Capestany, 2015 Alex Gordon USPTA Professional
of the Year.
CEOs Message
The Big Easy!

by John Embree
s I write this, we are still basking rants and social activities, be it in the
in the aftermath of what was
French Quarter or in the adjacent Waretruly a remarkable World Conf- house District, made it incredibly conveerence in New Orleans. Putnient. Clearly, the access to Harrahs Cating on a World Conference of this magsino right across the street from the front
nitude is a six to nine month process
door of the hotel made the location that
that epitomizes teamwork. What goes
much more ideal. Having indoor courts
on behind the scenes cannot be comto run our first-ever Masters Invitational
prehended by the attendees, as all they
and to be able to have on-court seminars
see is a well-oiled machine that delivin the climate-controlled environment
ers outstanding service and a first-rate
made for comfortable viewing. What I
event. Kudos to the USPTA staff!
clearly heard from a wide spectrum of at rleans
Total attendance equaled that of our
tendees was that the Hilton New O
Riverside should definitely be a part of
WC in La Quinta in 2008 with almost
our World Conference rotation. I agree.
1,000 people coming and going during
Arguably, the opening reception at
the six days. More significantly, total
The National WWII Museum on TuesPAID attendance surpassed every year
day night may go down as one of the
since Las Vegas of 2006. More than 120
most memorable events to have ever
were first-time attendees! Whether our
taken place at a USPTA World Conferstrong participation was an indication
ence. The Tom Hanks production of
of the drawing power of New Orleans as
Beyond All Boundaries is a 50-mina destination or a function of pros committed to fulfilling their professional
ute, numbing experience, which is a
development responsibility or because
must see for every American. It would
the education offered was so stellar, each take nine days to see everything that
was a factor to bringing our association
museum has to offer, so if you ever get
together for a fantastic celebration.
a chance
to visit New Orleans, make a
SmartCode Education
System
One reason why people were so enpoint of dedicating time to immerse
thusiastic about this years conference
yourself in this chapter of our history.
was the central location of the hotel. To
One of the true highlights of the
be able to walk to a potpourri of restauweek was the appearance by the current
Register your Accredited Professional Coach (APC) education credits with
the quick and easytouse USPTA SmartCode Education System. This uses
your smartphone to instantly register your attendance to all seminars and
specialty courses earning APC education credits.
To use the system, you will need:
998
Registered
attendees
Once the QR Code scanning

application is installed, test your
phone using the QR Code below. You
will select yes or open browser
or follow link to open/launch Web
page.
A smartphone with data access, Web-browsing capabilities and

camera. Apple iPhone and Google Android phones are fully
supported. Blackberry and Windows phones may also work.
A barcode scanning application for your smartphone that can scan
QR codes. Use your device to search the Apple Store or Google Play
for these free applications:
~ iPhone/iPad Qrafter.
~ Android Barcode Scanner.
~ AT&T AT&T Code Scanner comes with your phone)
OR
Use the QR code scanner in the CrowdCompass World
Conference app. Download the app at crowd.cc/usptawc15.
Using the SmartCode Education System
3,900
To use the system at a seminar, general session or specialty course, you must
scan two QR codes. One is your personal QR Code on your conference badge
or a sticker. It is also on your membership card. The second QR code will be
in your conference program and on a poster at the end of a session. It cannot
be scanned until the end of the session or the beginning of the next session.
If your test was successful, you

should see the SmartCode Education
System test Web page with the green
thumbs up icon.
Courses
successfully
scanned
Scan one of the QR codes (it does not matter which one you start with) using
the scanning app. Select yes or open browser or follow link to see the
SmartCode Education System Web page that confirms you have scanned
the first code. You will see the barcode scan symbol to let you know that you
need to scan the second code.
227
1st Barcode Scan Successful, Now Scan 2nd Code
Go back to the scanning app and repeat the process on the second code.
Once the second code is scanned and the Web page opened, you will see a
green check mark to confirm that your APC education credits have been
registered in the USPTA education system. You will also receive an email to
your primary email address to confirm that your credits were registered.
Borrow a Smartphone
The USPTA SmartCode Education
System is designed so that you can
borrow a friends smartphone to
register your credits. The phones
owner can register his/her credits
first by scanning the personal
code then session code. After
confirmation, you can scan your
codes to get credit as well.
6,985
Education credits earned

during the World Conference
2015 $
Individual specialty
courses taken
This does not include those that

were submitted by form or email
those are yet to be entered
Credits Successfully Registered
$16,000+
Amount raised for the USPTA
Foundation with the raffle and
online and silent auctions
World Conference by the numbers
44 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu,

along with his father Moon Landrieu,
the former mayor, who addressed our
opening general session. Both are tennis
advocates who riveted the audience with
stories about how tennis has impacted
their respective lives. Then, there were
35 other sessions and three specialty
courses that did not just focus on forehands and backhands. A wide range of
topics focusing on sportsmanship, club
management, independent contractors
vs. employees, building your brand, and
the dangers of early specialization (just
to name a few), all enhanced the dynamic
schedule put together by our Education
Committee.
Our Buying Show Thursday evening
was the largest trade show ever with
over 75 booths taken. Vendors who had
never exhibited previously were present
because they recognize that our show
is the only one of its size in the tennis
industry during the year. Of course, I
would be remiss if I did not thank our
now 13 endorsees, including Prince and
Fromuth, for their continuing commitment to our membership. And, a special
shout-out goes to TuringSense who
sponsored this World Conference.
Lastly, the week culminated with our
finale Awards Luncheon on Friday. Rick
Dickson, Tulane Universitys Athletic
Director, talked candidly about the fate
of non-revenue sports in the changing
world of college athletics. His message
was simple and direct: the entire industry needs to make tennis much more relevant on college campuses if we expect
our sport to survive the looming restructuring of college athletic departments.
All in all, it was an incredible week.
For those of you who were in New Orleans, I extend my gratitude for your
commitment to be with us. For those
who could not come, be sure to join us
next September at the Hyatt Regency
Indian Wells Resort and Spa in Calif.,
so that you too can follow our mission
of elevating the standards of tennis-
teaching professionals and coaches. h
Vice Presidents Message
Getting my monies worth!

by Jack Michalko
joined the USPTA in 1970 at the age

walked into my first seminar on Tenof 23. I had just completed graduate
nis Programing all that changed. At
school and secured my first (and last) the podium was a teaching pro sharing
one great idea after another. When the
job shortly thereafter.
seminar was over I approached him and
My main reason for joining the association was educaintroduced myself.
My USPTA membership was the
tion and networking.
We became very close
best investment I ever made in my
While I was a good
friends and found
career. I cant imagine how things
high school and college
we were very much
would have unfolded for me had
player, I realized that
alike in almost every
I not joined this association and
did very little to prearea, including type
become an active member.
pare me as a teacher
of club, pro shop and
or to run a business. It was obvious I
philosophy. Both our wives were even
would need help if I was to succeed in the our pro shop managers and buyers.
tennis-teaching profession.
From that point on we got together
Since I was beginning my new job
at the USPTA World Conference each
just about the time the 1970 USPTA
year and met a second time each year
World Conference was being held, I
at his club. At this second meeting we
wasnt able to attend a conference until
discussed our total tennis operations:
the following year (1971). Ive attended
maintenance, pro shop, programing,
every one since!
problem-solving, staff and what was and
When I attended the USPTA World
wasnt working. These sessions continued until he retired in 1992.
Conference at Lakeway World of Ten Looking back I would have to say the
nis in 1974, the last thing I was lookmost important benefit I gained from
ing for was a mentor; however, when I
my USPTA membership was my mentor. I cant imagine how my career would

have turned out if I hadnt met Harry
Parten, Director of Tennis at River Oaks
Country Club in Houston. Harry was
at ROCC for 36 years before retiring (it
was his only job). He spent so much time
guiding me to understand the tennis
business and gave me great advice along
the way. I owe him a great deal.
I am now retired after 39 years as Director of Tennis at the Phoenix Country
Club in Phoenix. Im happy to say that
my relationship with Harry continued
until he passed away in June of this
year. We use to visit each other after we
both retired and the topic was always
the same reminiscing about our tennis
careers!
My USPTA membership was the
best investment I ever made in my career. I cant imagine how things would
have unfolded for me had I not joined
this association and become an active
member. h
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Endorsee News
Prince a Big Presence

at World Conference
rince Global Sports was a

smash at the recent USPTA
World Conference in New
Orleans. The Exclusive Racquet Partner of the USPTA showcased
its full retail line of TeXtreme racquets,
balls, bags and accessories. All USPTA
conference attendees were able to
get their hands on their choice of the
new TeXtreme racquets during the
two demo sessions that Prince ran.
The new TeXtreme Tour 100P was a
big hit as pros were challenged to take
the Tour 100P Challenge. Prince says
theyre so confident in the winning
performance of the new TeXtreme
Tour 100P they are offering a 30-Day
Satisfaction Guarantee*.
The highlight of the conference
was the Prince-sponsored session
with USPTA Master Professional
and Prince Pro Nick Bollettieri. Giving highlights on his life as a coach,
Bollettieri covered his highly successful approach, which he says not
only builds athletes on the court, but
more importantly, prepares them for
Prince sponsored seminar with

USPTA Master Professional
Nick Bollettieri
Prince demo session
a successful life. Bollettieri expanded

his vision when he joined forces with
IMG to turn the tennis academy into a
multi-sport training facility, also home
to Princes flagship, advanced Tennis
Innovation Center.
Prince was also sure to spend
some quality time getting to know the
SPTA Pros in attendance, hosting a

U
Team Prince Pro meeting and taking
center stage as the featured exhibitor
at the USPTA Buying Show. Also on
display was the brand new Prince 7000
stringing machine, which was put to
active use stringing racquets on site for
the duration of the conference. h
* If you are not fully satisfied with the performance of your TeXtreme Tour 100P
ealer.
racquet within 30-days of purchase, simply return it with your receipt to your d
You will receive a full credit of your purchase toward any other Prince r acquet or
product of similar value.
Beyond the Court
The True Warrior

By Nate Chura, USPTA
n 1968 an amateur tennis player

named Arthur Ashe defeated
Dutchman Tom Okker at Forrest
Hills to win the first ever US Open
Mens Championship. The victory
made Ashe a legend. Few people know,
however, that at the time, the legend
was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. After
his historic win, Ashe returned to his
bachelors quarters at the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point, where he was
stationed for nearly three years from
1966-69. It probably goes without
saying, but Ashe was not your typical
soldier.
Ashe is the perfect antithesis of the
people at this place, said Jim Poling,
the head coach of the Army mens tennis team.
In his iconic book Levels of the
Game, John McPhee captured the essence of Lieutenant Ashe in his vivid
description of the US Open champs
quarters on post.
[Ashe] stumbles as he crosses the
room, because any number of objects
may be on the floor. There is always an
Arthur Ashe Kids Day volunteers
Tennis is the best game in

the whole world ... Youre on
your own. Its kinda like life.
You learn how to win, how to
lose. You walk off the court
after a loss and its all you.
You, alone, have to take the
responsibility.
open, half-filled suitcase somewhere.
Tennis clothes fan out of it like laundry
spread out to dry. Racquets are all over
the place, strung and unstrung on the
floor, on bookshelves, the bed. There
are piles of unanswered letters. Ripped
envelopes are so numerous that they
should probably be removed with a
rake.
Not exactly the image that comes
to mind when one thinks of an Army
fficer.
o
If youre living in the barracks,
said Poling, its gonna be neat. Every so
often they have a thing called a sammy,
which is like a white glove inspection.
Everything is dusted. Everythings put

away. Everything is just the way you
would think it would be in the Army.
Despite his irreverence as a soldier,
the Army honors the memory of Ashe,
as it does all members of its ranks, but
the tennis team even more so. During
his time in the service, Ashe forged an
unbreakable bond with the team.
Playing with the cadet varsity players, observed McPhee, one has only to
watch him on the courts to see the extent
of his athletic generosity and his affection for what he is doing. He gives away
points when he knows that the cadets
will not suspect him. He plays at a minor
pace with a spectacular suggestion of
high effort. He mixes encouragement
with instruction and humor in an unending stream of words across the net.
Last month that bond was strengthened even further.
For the tenth consecutive year,
Polings squad along with the Army
womens team was called up to feed
tennis balls on the USPTAs court for
Arthur Ashe Kids Day, which kicks-off
From left to right: Jeff Rothstien, Arthur Ashe Kids Day court leader (USPTA), Paul Peck
(Army womens coach), Jim Poling (Army mens coach), and Mark Savage (USPTA Eastern
President) present the Arthur Ashe Kids Day 10 Years of Service award to the mens and
womens Army tennis teams for helping the USPTA court.
the Open. I met with Poling prior to

the big day to find out more about his
team, his philosophy on the game, and
the current state of American tennis.
Clean-shaven with a neat, gray
mustache, and clad in an Army-green
T-shirt and camouflage cap, theres
no mistaking: Poling is a West Point
man. He carries himself like an officer, which is not surprising. After
graduating from Clemson University,
he reached a career-high rank of first
lieutenant in the Army (the same as
Ashe). He fell in love with West Point
when he played in the third Army
Championships in 1971 (three years
after Ashe won the Open). Shortly
thereafter, Poling began his lifelong career as a college coach. Today, he lives
on post, and in the 13 years hes been
the head coach of the team, the Black
Knights have clinched the Patriot
League title five times. Theyre currently the reigning league champion.
Were pretty good, Poling said
modestly.
To give me a better idea of the
teams level, he recounted a recent
performance against the University of
Virginia in the NCAA Championship.
We gave, I think, an incredible showing. Virginias coach told me afterwards
it was the toughest first round match
they had in years.
We talk about being the true

warrior here at West Point.
The true warrior says yes to it
all. Which means when I walk
on the court and play you and
its hot, I say, Okay, I got it.
Its rainy ... Its windy ... Youre
cheating me. I accept it, I say,
Its part of the game. What am
I gonna do? I have to learn how
to handle it. The true warrior
says, I got this.
But the truth is, at West Point, tennis is more of a means to an end. Given
the cadets will spend five years in the
service after graduation, its unlikely
many of Polings players will go on to
be pros like Ashe. Instead, he focuses
on the aspects of the game that will
make his players better leaders and
citizens.
Tennis is the best game in the
whole world, Poling declared. Youre
on your own. Its kinda like life. You
learn how to win, how to lose. You walk
off the court after a loss and its all you.
You, alone, have to take the responsibility. We talk about being the true
warrior here at West Point. The true
warrior says yes to it all. Which means

when I walk on the court and play you
and its hot, I say, Okay. I got it. Its
rainy ... Its windy ... Youre cheating
me. I accept it. I say, Its part of the
game. What am I gonna do? I have to
learn how to handle it. The true warrior says, I got this.
The most obvious skill Polings
players develop is teamwork, but unlike many college tennis programs, the
Black Knights benefit from the Academys core curriculum.
Theyve been through the firing squad, basically, said Poling, in
reference to his team. Theyve been
through the gas chamber together.
Theyve been bivouacked. Theyve
been out doing land navigation ...
These guys have a bond.
While Coach Poling was warmingup with my 9-year-old daughter, I
couldnt resist the urge to ask him if he
would be doing any recruiting on Kids
Day. He smiled and said no, but added,
We are doing some good recruiting,
though. We have some good kids coming up.
To those who say the state of
American tennis is retracting, Poling
exclaims, Baloney! American tennis
is on the rise. I dont care what people
say, and he ticked off a long list of
up-and-coming American stars. And
to further illustrate his point, he recounted his own positive experience
recruiting new talent, an especially
telling sign, since the Army team is all
American. Every player has to be a U.S.
citizen.
Last year we had three five-star
players on our team, he said, and we
have several four-star players.
For those who are unfamiliar with
college recruiter terminology, the
top-25 players in the nation are blue
chip players, the next 50 are fivestar, the next 100 are four-star, and
so on in reverse of the military ranking system.
When I got here, Poling remembers, it wasnt that level.
Perhaps a true warrior may emerge
from the ranks after all. h
Nate Chura is a USPTA Elite
Professional and journalist. He is
currently the director of tennis
at Onteora Club, as well as the
head tennis professional of The
Heights Casino in Brooklyn, N.Y.
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 51
USPTA World Conference Returns

with a Bang in Big Easy
he USPTA World Conference

returned to its original format
in 2015, and with New Orleans
serving as this years host for
the first time, it was one for the record
books.
Nearly 1,000 people came to
the Hilton New Orleans Riverside
throughout the week.
I think this is one of the best conferences we have ever had, said USPTA Florida President Trish Faulkner.
Hotel was great with a friendly staff.
Having the courts inside and within
walking distance is a plus. The whole
location next to the Riverwalk and
within walking distance of so many
excellent restaurants and sights was
great.
In an effort to enhance the attendee experience, USPTA introduced
its conference app powered by CrowdCompass and sponsored by TuringSense, which launched its company
in New Orleans at the conference.
The app allowed attendees to receive
instant notifications for updates and
changes, create custom schedules with
reminders, connect with other attendees, and much more straight from their
mobile devices.
USPTA also offered those who
could not attend the conference a
chance to receive education credits. For the first time, USPTA live
streamed its four general sessions
on YouTube with an opportunity for
members to earn 3 education credits.
This years keynote speakers included Martin Blackman, USTA Player
Development General Manager; Gigi
Fernandez, former No. 1 doubles
player, 17-time Grand Slam champion
and two-time Olympic gold medalist;
Tom Gullikson, former U.S. Davis Cup
captain with 16 top-level doubles titles;
Nicole M. LaVoi, Ph.D., faculty in the
School of Kinesiology at the University

of Minnesota and associate director
of the Tucker Center for Research
on Girls & Women in Sport; Michele
Krause, Cardio Tennis manager; and
Rick Dickson, athletics director at Tulane University and keynote speaker at
Fridays Awards Luncheon.
Other noted speakers were Mark
Macdonald, world-renowned fitness and nutrition expert; Jeffrey D.
Morgan, CEO of the Club Managers
Association of America (CMAA); Craig
S. Jones, USTA Director of Junior Play;
and many, many more.
USPTA Immediate Past President
Tom Daglis especially enjoyed Craig
OShannessys session. One of the best
seminars I have ever attended. Great
info and great presenter! Daglis said.
One of the top highlights of the
conference was the Welcome Reception on Tuesday night at The National
World War II Museum. Attendees
were treated to heavy hors doeuvres
and a drink before viewing the moving
documentary, Beyond All Boundaries. The museum was also open
throughout the evening to explore the
various exhibits in the European and
Asian wings.
This was a touching film that allowed us to go to a wonderful museum
dedicated to a very dark time in our
history, Faulkner said.
USPTA Past President Harry Gilbert called the welcome reception and
film a wonderful and moving experience and that this years conference
was one of the best.
Another new tradition was born
in the Big Easy this year with the first
Masters Invitational. Top players from
the USPTA Surface Championships
were invited to play in this tournament, which culminated on Wednesday with the trophy presentation. Congratulations the mens open singles
champion, Stefano Ianni, the womens
open singles champion Zorana George,
and to all of the winners!

The traditional division parties on
Wednesday night also returned this
year, along with the USPTA Buying
Show and Silent Auction to benefit the
USPTA Foundation on Thursday evening. The show saw several first-time
exhibitors such as Asics, adidas, EleVen
by Venus, Life Fitness, and new USPTA
endorsees Connor Sport Court, 2XU,
Power Plate, Plannit and Jeunesse.
The conference ended on a high
note by recognizing our outstanding
members at Fridays Awards Luncheon
and inducting two new members into
the USPTA Hall of Fame Dennis Van
der Meer and Tom Gullikson along
with honoring five new Master Professionals; Jorge Capestany, the 2015
USPTA Alex Gordon Professional
of the Year; David Muir, the George

Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award
recipient; and Lisa Gilbride, the USTA/
USPTA Community Service Award
winner.
Although the excitement and energy in New Orleans made for an excellent place to return, the experience
of professionals and industry leaders
coming together for a week of learning,
networking amd fun made for a successful conference.
USPTA Eastern Division President Mark Savage said this years
conference gave him a chance to
rejuvenate and educate. Loved New
Orleans, the food, the friends, the
expertise, and most of all the USPTA
participants who all showed what true
professionalism is. h
2015 Honorees
USPTA honored those who stand out and go above and beyond in all aspects of the tennis industry at the 2015 USPTA World
Conference. USPTA, the worlds oldest and largest association of tennis-teaching professionals, recognized tennis coaches,
industry leaders and volunteers during its annual national awards presentation at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.
Dennis Van der Meer (Hilton Head,
S.C.) and Tom Gullikson (Boca Raton,
Fla.) joined the ranks of only 16 others when they were inducted into the
USPTA Hall of Fame. The associations
Van der Meer Gullikson
highest honor recognizes excellence
in the tennis profession and commitment to USPTA.
Jorge Capestany (Holland, Mich.) received the
USPTA Alex Gordon Professional of the Year
Award, the associations top annual member
award.
The George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award
went to David Muir (Blue Island, Ill.), the first time
the award has been presented since 2008.
Lisa Gilbride (Topsham, Maine) received the USTA/

USPTA Community Service Award for her contributions to her community through tennis, presented
annually by the United States Tennis Association as
part of the USPTAs awards program.
For the second consecutive year, a Texan has won

the Tennis Across America Award. Master Professional Ron Woods (Corpus Christi, Texas) was recognized for his efforts to increase tennis participation in his community.
John Dale Evans (Oakland, Calif.) received the associations Diversity Award for his work to increase
diversity within the USPTA.
Craig OShannessy (Austin, Texas) is this years
recipient of the Tim Gullikson Touring Coach
of the Year award. OShannessy is also one of
the world leaders in strategy analysis for the ATP
World Tour, WTA, the New York Times and the
Australian Open.
Charles Reedy Toney (Kingsport, Tenn.) was
named the High School Coach of the Year. As the
head boys and girls tennis coach at Tennessee High
School in Bristol, Tenn., Toney led his players to
multiple championships in 2015.
Warren Lem (Naples, Fla.) was awarded the

USPTA Presidents Paul Waldman Award by USPTA
President Tom McGraw for his contributions to the
USPTA Foundation.
Rolando Vargas (Troy, Ala.) was named the College Coach of the Year after leading the mens and
womens teams to conference championships at
Auburn University Montgomery in 2015, posting
a combined 44-10 record for both teams. Vargas
also coached the womens team to the 2015 NAIA National
Championship title.
In recognition of his business acumen and

dvancing the sport of tennis in his community,
a
Lane Evans (Hendersonville, N.C.) received the
USPTAs Industry Excellence Award, which recognizes members who increase tennis activity in their
communities.
Tom Ingram (Cedar Park, Texas) was named the

George Bacso Tester of the Year. Ingram is a USPTA
Elite Professional and has been a member for more
than 37 years. He has served as a tester for 21
years, 17 of those as a head tester. He administered
the USPTA certification exam to 50 people over the last year.
Trenton Corvino (Portland, Ore.) was awarded the

USPTA Star Award for his efforts to provide tennis
to at-risk children as the program director with
the Portland After School Tennis and Education
program.
Levander Kelley (North Chesterfield, Va.) was named
the Top Education Credit Earner for 2014 after earning an astounding 350 education credits as part of
the USPTA Career Development Program.
Suzanne LaBelle (Oklahoma City) is the recipient
of the Lessons for Life Award for her extensive contributions to her community. In 2014, she helped
raise more than $130,000 for various organizations through tennis.
Ryan George (Odessa, Texas) was named the Facility Manager of the Year, Small Facility. George has
been the general manager of the Odessa Country
Club in Odessa, Texas, for the past seven years and
has continually made the commitment to support
tennis and tennis-teaching professionals.
Richard Macey (Bradenton, Fla.) was named the
Facility Manager of the Year, Large Facility. Macey
has been the manager of IMG Tennis at the IMG
Academy for the past three and half years.
Jeremiah De Jose (Wilmington, Del.) is the first
recipient of the U30 Award, new to the awards program in 2015. The U30 Award recognizes a USPTA
Professional aged 30 or under for their contributions to tennis.
Player of the Year Awards

Mens Open Singles
Adrians Zguns
Mens Open Doubles
Paulo Barros
Stefano Ianni
Mens 35s Singles
Paulo Barros
Mens 40s Doubles
Frank Vermeer
Kamil Kuchta
Mens 50s Doubles

Patricio Madariaga
Carlos Triana
Mens 60s Singles
Gewan Maharaj
Womens 50s Doubles

Kimberly Jones
Christie Bradley
Mens 60s Doubles

Mike Barnes
Larry Gagnon
Mixed Open Doubles

Adrians Zguns
Ristine Olson
Mens 65s Singles

Mike Barnes
Mixed 40s Doubles

Trish Riddell
Jack Steyn
Mens 45s Singles

Kamil Kuchta
Womens Open Singles

Carrie Kalapala
Mens 45s Doubles

Bryan Biever
Mike Vidmar
Womens 40s Singles

Trish Riddell
Mens 50s Singles

Steve Brady
Womens 50s Singles

Ruth Hessert
Mixed 50s Doubles

Susie Brown
Patricio Madariaga
Division Awards
Large Division of the Year Texas Small Division of the Year New England
Newsletter of the Year Texas
Division growth
Greatest number of new members Southern
Greatest percentage of new members Missouri Valley
Tennis Across America

Greatest number of participants Midwest
Greatest percentage of participants San Diego
Lessons for Life

Most money raised Southern Most money raised per capita Southern
Womens 40s Doubles

Trish Riddell
Susan Evans
Education Awards
Top education participants 2014
Specialist Degrees
USPTA Specialists in Competitive Player Development
Andrew Diefenbach
Luciano Battaglini
Edward Duffy
Jeff Bearup
Boris Fetbroyt
Nestor Bernabe
Kerry Giardino
Amine Boustani
Tomas Hlavaty
Igal Buberman
Jimmy Jackson
Vivian Chhetri
Brenton James
Jerry Christoforatos
Jason Kinder
Pat Colbert
Brian Kuscher
Janusz Conradi
Esu Maat
Ellen Considine-Miller
Andrew Martin
Calin Constanceanu
Brad Minns
Nicholas Cote
Cesar Morales
Devin Crotzer
Benny Morentin
Rick Davison
Tony Mule
Jimmy Delevante
Jean Desdunes
USPTA Specialist in Sport Science

Bobbie Campanaro
Feisal Hassan
Murphey Parker
Vesa Ponkka
Bert Poole
John Pratt
Tyler Pullen
Farhad Roshanaie
Andres Sanchez
Brian Schubert
Bryan Smith
Jeri Stewart
Jeffrey Wiedemann
Steve Williams
Jason Winegar
Gwinyai Zengeni
Anzela Zguna
USPTA Specialist in Facility Management

Eric Winn

Levander Kelley Top credit earner

Josh Jorgensen

Michael Baugh

Bill Riddle

Lane Evans

Chad Empey
Rodolfo Cordova
Gary Cimperman
Michael Moriarty
Dan Beedle
Education merit award for 10 years of continuing education participation

Karl Akkerman
Ron Dyson
Warren Lem
Bill Mecca
Jeff Rothstein
Keith Swindolll
Master Professionals
Five USPTA members earned Master Professional status, the highest professional
rating within the tennis profession:

Michael Chamberlain (Memphis, Tenn.)

Christopher Chopra (Bloomington, Ind.)
Stan Oley (Viera, Fla.)
James Shaughnessy (Enid, Okla.)
John Trinity (Randolph, N.J.)
The USPTA National Awards program is conducted annually. Nominations are submitted by the organizations 17 divisions and by individuals. Recipients in each
category are decided by the USPTA Awards Committee. 2015 Awards Committee: Diane Selke (chair), Jennifer Gray, Mark Savage, Bill Weber, Bruce Gullikson
Years of Service
30 Years
Greg Alexander
Dan Aubuchon
Henry Avants
Juan Ayala
Jan Bardot
Jim Barnish
Van Barry
Dennis Bartlett
Lou Belken
Craig Bell
Cindy Benzon
Pat Birney
Ernest Blachowiak
Paul Blankenship
Chrisann Boehm
Ross Boling
Donnia Bondallian
Doug Boswell
Sue Boyle
Fred Burdick
Daniel Burgess
Lynn Bybee
Tom Caldwell
Dale Caldwell
Enrico Campi
George Carlsson
Mike Carrico
John Carrizosa
Lillo Casesa
Bwana Chakar Simba
Ed Charles
Will Cleveland
Bob Cofer
William Cole
Scot Collins
Stacey Comartos
Joe Concialdi
Anne Cook
Chris Cordano
Jim Corn
Rob Cornell
Dennis Covington
Conrad Cowan
Karen Crumpton
Glenn Davis
Joe Deitchler
John DePew
Frank Dorsky
Cliff Drysdale
Arnold Dun
Kevin Eby
Mary Pat Faley
Marilyn Feinstein
Mary Fink
Steve Garman
Sig Garnett
Johan Garos
Ed Gaskell
Dennis Gibbens
Mark Goldin
Teri Goodman
Bill Gordon
Todd Grange
Cecil Green
Bruce Haase
Christopher Hagman
Yasutoshi Hamaguchi
Tadaaki Hamaguchi
Craig Hardenbergh
Larry Haugness
Bill Henness
Pat Hennessy
Greg High
Steven Hill
Jim Hinson
Jimbo Hobson
Robert Hollis
Masamitsu Hondo
Anne Hopson
Glen Howe
Dick Howell
Takeshi Ide
Tadashi Iwasaki
Mark Jacques
Judy Jeanette
Bud Johnson
Barbara Johnston Hill
Craig Jones
Marvin Jones
John Joyce
Henry Kamakana
Yukitoshi Kawabata
Junzo Kawase
Masahiko Kawashima
Gordon Kent
Dennis Killelea
Patricia Kirch
Barbara Kissick
Larry Kline
Peter Koekkoek
Craig Koessler
Tom Komassa
Glenn Kommer
Shubrick Kothe
Chris Kretchmer
Shoji Kunitoshi
David Kuras
Mike Lange
Patrick LaSalle
Katherine Lashbrook
Barry Lewis
John Lippman
Carolyn Lumber
Marc Majdick
Tim Mangan
James Marion
Tony Martin
Sean McCarthy
Bill McClain
Chauncey McFarland
John McSween
Anne Meigs
Cliff Menke
Dale Miller
Leslie Moe
Tina Montagnet
Akio Naraki
Aurae Nemesis
Ben Neveras
Rick Ninete
Diane OBrien
Steven OConnell
Sean ONeil
Shushichiro Ono
Duke Paluch
Morio Parker
Kevin Pease
Ann Pellow
Bob Peterson
Jose Pico
Jim Pitkanen
David Pitts
Gary Plank
Richard Ralston
David Redding
David Richardson
Bob Risinger
Dennis Rizza
Stephen Robinson
Drew Robinson
Clay Robinson
Ron Romano
Martin Rothfels
Dennis Royal
Kevin Rust
Ron Salazar
Nick Saviano
Tom Schuett
Mark Schwartz
Bailey See
George Shaw
Bill Simmers
Thomas Simpson
Stan Smith
Arthur Snow
Renie Sokolowski
Sharon Spiegel
Ron St. John
Bill Stahr
Susie Staloch
Brian Stanley
Seabury Stanton
Paul Steele
Marisa Stone
Akira Sukegawa
John Sutter
Tom Sweitzer
Bill Swift
Jerald Taggart
Satoshi Takahashi
George Tarangioli
Frank Taylor
Andrea Taylor
Yukitaka Temma
Catherine Thomas
Kohei Tomioka
Robert Trogolo
Mike Van Zutphen
Fred Viancos
Mark Vines
Bob Wagstaff
Winston Wai
Pancho Walthall
Tom Warfel
Hirotsugu Watanuki
Campbell Watts
Chip Weber
Jim Wegener
Darin Weidenheimer
Jimmy Weinacker
Keith Wheeler
John Whitlinger
Dave Wiest
Lawrence Willens
Mark Williams
Ron Williams
Doug Wright
Carrie Zarraonandia
Anne Zarraonandia
Daniel Zirolla
35 Years
Patricia Allar
Rich Andrews
Martha Bass
Janan Batchelor
Eileen Berry
David Boggs
David Bohrnstedt
Chris Bradley
Mike Brzoska
Jim Buck
Tim Burke
Steve Carberry
Mike Carrigan
Mike Casey
Sheldon Chazen
Marjorie Collins
Mike Collins
Robert Cox
Todd Curtiss
Eddie Davis
Jorge Del Moral
Becky Desmond
David Dilettuso
Dave Dollins
Gary Druckman
Kurt Edelbrock
Richard Ehrenreich
Charlie Ellis
Ron Filstrup
Mark Fleming
Jim Flesch
Ann Flint
Steven Gervickas
Ann Grubbs
Artie Guerin
Jonathan Hains
Kevin Hamilton
Robert Harjes
Richard Hatfield
Michael Hurley
Lawrence Hyde
Scott Irwin
Gordon Jones
Martha Jones
Dean Kadera
Richard Kaufman
Steve Kroupa
Jack Lackey
Angel Lopez
Dixie Mabe
Creig Matthieson
Mindy McCarthy-Oki
Ken McEwan
Tom McGraw
Robert McNichols
Ed McQuillin
Rick Meyers
Jim Moellering
Patricia Mraz
Paul Muesing
Claudia Myers-Whiteley
Bob Myerson
Bruce Nagel
Bob Northcut
Mike OConnell
Ken Ouellette
Mike Owens
Jim Parker
Christine Parker
Cliff Price
Gary Quandt
David Rapp
Robyn Ray
Gwendolyn Ritchie
Ralph Robbins
Bob Rodgers
Franklin Sacks
Charles Sanfilippo
Ted Sayrahder
Scott Schultz
Terry See
Richard Sharton
Gary Sherby
Mark Simcina
Jonathan Spear
Carlene Stephens
Judith Stiff
James Strassle
Ken Sumrow
Tim Sunderland
Jim Swiggart
Stan Tamura
Norma Taylor
Jim Tierney
Robert Travnicek
Wendell Troy
Larry Turville
Betty Walsh
Gideon Weber
Dean Werner
Joe Wesson
Marnie Whalen
Steve Wild
Pete Zannis
Jonathan Zolin
Bob Zysk
40 Years
Susan Allshouse
Bob Anderman
Asa Atkinson
Mike Baldwin
Jak Beardsworth
Sherry Bedingfield
Terry Bennett
David Birnbaum
Hank Brenner
David Buksa
Doug Cash
Sam Ciulla
Tommy Connell
Mark Davis
Ken DeHart
Dave Fleury
Janet French
Morton Greenberg
Tom Gross
Sara Hamilton
Bob Helton
Howard Hunt
John Ingram
Dean Ives
Roberto Leon
Elliot Lovi
Gewan Maharaj
Barbara Maitland
Ken McAllister
Jim McCabe
Bob McInerney
Mike Morse
Thomas Nelson
Henry Offner
Eleanor Peden
Craig Petra
Fred Pinho
Charlotte Primer
Dennis Prinos
Ed Richardson
Bill Roberti
Carl Robinson
Jeff Rothstein
John Russo
Lester Sack
Jane Seiffert
Ron Shapiro
Scott Simpson
Dean Snyder
John Somerville
Steve Stefanki
Tony Trabert
Wayne Uglem
Andy Ventress
Tena Ventress-Soller
Eric Zatman
Brent Zeller
45 Years
David Benjamin
Arnold Bradshaw
Barry Butcher
Vilis Cakans
Fred Drilling
Ramsey Earnhart
Mike Eikenberry
Fritz Gildemeister
Don Hebert
Walter Johnson
Larry Kast
Bob King
Alan Koth
John Lawrence
Bruce Mahler
Denis Moss
Melvina Nozick
Terry Petersen
Dave Power
Robert Ruzanic
Sidney Steinour
Bill Thompson
Bill Tym
Fernando Velasco
Carol Weymuller
Ray Yost
50 Years
Asher Birnbaum
Frank Brennan
Charles Enge
Richard Henderson
Chet Murphy
Sean Sloane
55 Years
Dieter Ehlermann
Joseph Fait
Ed Garcia
Alan Laveson
60 Years
Charles Eisenberger
Ed Reid
Brick Warden
Seen on Social Media
Top Players Take Home Honors

in USPTAs $15,000 Masters
Invitational
he best of the best were on

display this week at the first
USPTA Masters Invitational,
with several of the USPTAs top
Surface Championship winners taking
home a portion of the $15,000 prize
money. The first annual USPTA Masters Invitational was held during the
USPTA World Conference at the Hilton
Riverside New Orleans.
This invitation-only tournament,
which replaced the International
Championships, gave USPTA-certified
Professionals an added opportunity
to showcase their skills and earn more
prize money.
Stefano Ianni of Miami earned the
mens open singles division title after
defeating Adrians Zguns of Orlando,
Fla., by a final score of 1-6, 6-1, 6-1. The
pair partnered up earlier in the week
to take home the top prize in the mens
open doubles division.
Zorana George of Cordova, Tenn.,
was the top woman in the tournament
after earning the womens open singles
division title with a decisive victory
over Miranda Rodriguez of Baytown,
Texas, 6-2, 6-0.
Floridians had a strong showing at
the tournament. The USPTA Mens 35
Singles Player of the Year, Paulo Barros of Winter Garden, Fla., won the
Masters Invitational title in the same
division. He was also named the Mens
Open Doubles Player of the Year along
with Ianni.
Longtime tournament participant
Jeff Cohen of Boca Raton, Fla., won the
mens 45 singles division crown after
edging Frank Vermeer 6-4, 7-6. Cohen
and Vermeer also paired up to earn
the mens 45 doubles division title by
defeating Tom Breece and Rob Horsch
6-0, 6-2 in the finals.
Stefano Ianni
Hans Gallauer of St. Petersburg,

Fla., went down to the wire with Pat
Serret by came up victorious with a
three-set win 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 for the mens
55 singles division title.
The USPTA Masters Invitational
featured the top point earners from
the four USPTA Surface Championships in 2014-15 who were selected
to compete based on their finish.
Divisions included mens 35 singles,
mens 45 doubles, mens 45 singles,
mens 55 singles, mens open doubles,
mens open singles, and womens open
singles. The total prize money for the
event was $15,000, which was the largest amount awarded of all the USPTA
tournaments.
Full results of the 2015 USPTA
Masters Invitational are available on
getcourtside.com.
Additionally, USPTA recognized the
organizations players of the year after
the Masters Invitational Finals. The
winners are determined by the total
number of USPTA player points earned
during the 2014 calendar year based on
each players finish at USPTA tournaments.
Adrians Zguns of Orlando was
named the Mens Open Singles Player
of the Year and Carrie Kalapala of Austin, Texas, was named the Womens
Open Singles Player of the Year. For a
full list of the 2014 USPTA Players of
the Year, see the list on Page 61.
For more information on player
rankings, the USPTA Surface Championships and the Masters Invitational,
visit uspta.com/tournaments. h
2014 USPTA Players of the Year

Mens Open Singles Adrians Zguns (Orlando, Fla.)
Mens Open Doubles Paulo Barros (Winter Garden, Fla.);
Stefano Ianni (Miami)
Mens 35 and Over Singles Paulo Barros (Winter Garden, Fla.)
Mens 40 and Over Doubles Frank Vermeer (Jacksonville, Fla.);
Kamil Kuchta (Boynton Beach, Fla.)
Mens 45 and Over Singles Kamil Kuchta (Boynton Beach, Fla.)
Mens 45 and Over Doubles Bryan Biever (Saint Paul, Minn.);
Mike Vidmar (Saint Paul, Minn.)
Mens 50 and Over Singles Steve Brady (Tampa, Fla.)
Mens 50 and Over Doubles Patricio Madariaga (Miami Beach, Fla.);
Carlos Triana (Aventura, Fla.)
USPTA Master Invitational players Thiago Barbosa, Rudy Obregon, Adrian
Zguns and Stefano Ianni.
2015 USPTA Masters Invitational Winners

Mens Open Singles Winner: Stefano Ianni (Miami);
Runner-up: Adrians Zguns (Orlando, Fla.)
Womens Open Singles Winner: Zorana George (Cordova, Tenn.);
Runner-up: Miranda Rodriguez (Baytown, Texas)
Mens Open Doubles Winners: Stefano Ianni (Miami)/Adrians
Zguns (Orlando); Runners-up: Rudy Obregon (San Antonio)/
Thiago Barbosa (Glendale, Ariz.)
Mens 35 Singles Winner: Paulo Barros (Winter Garden, Fla.);
Runner-up: Mathieu Soto (Boca Raton, Fla.)
Mens 45 Singles Winner: Jeff Cohen (Boca Raton, Fla.);
Runner-up: Frank Vermeer (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Mens 60 and Over Singles Gewan Maharaj (Tampa, Fla.)

Mens 60 and Over Doubles Mike Barnes (Fort Myers, Fla.); Larry
agnon (Fort Myers, Fla.)
G
Mens 65 and Over Singles Mike Barnes (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Womens Open Singles Carrie Kalapala (Austin, Texas)
Womens 40 and Over Singles Trish Riddell (Lakeland, Fla.)
Womens 40 and Over Doubles Trish Riddell (Lakeland, Fla.);
Susan Evans (Marco Island, Fla.)
Womens 50 and Over Singles Ruth Hessert (Pocono Pines, Pa.)
Womens 50 and Over Doubles Kimberly Jones (Fort Myers, Fla.);
Christie Bradley (Sanibel, Fla.)
Mixed Open Doubles Adrians Zguns (Orlando, Fla.); Ristine Olson
(Austin, Texas)
Mens 45 Doubles Winners: Jeff Cohen (Boca Raton, Fla.)/ Frank

Vermeer (Jacksonville, Fla.); Runners-up: Tom Breece (Phoenix,
Ariz.)/Rob Horsch (Laguna Niguel, Calif.)
Mixed 40 and Over Doubles Trish Riddell (Lakeland, Fla.); Jack Steyn
(Bradenton, Fla.)
Mens 55 Singles Winner: Hans Gallauer (St. Petersburg, Fla.);

Runner-up: Pat Serret (Alexandria, La.)
Mixed 50 and Over Doubles Susie Brown (Delray Beach, Fla.);

Patricio Madariaga (Miami Beach, Fla.)
Womens Open Winner Zorana George with USPTA President Tom McGraw and Dan Moster.
Mens Open Winner Stefano Ianni with USPTA President Tom McGraw and Dan Moster.
Inside Coaching
Competitive Fight + Emotional Control =

Competitive Balance
By Ben Loeb, USPTA
icture yourself walking across

a tightrope with your hands
out to each side to help your
balance.

On one hand is Competitive
Fight and on the other hand is Emotional Control. In competitive athletics
and specifically in a tennis match you
need both. Competitive fight without
emotional control will leave you frustrated and angry. You will not be at your
best to solve problems in the match.
If you have emotional control but not
enough competitive fight, you will be
playing the match while driving in
neutral. Thats not good enough to get
to where you want to go against strong
competition. You need positive energy
to fuel the competitive fight. Consequently, strive to have proper emotional
balance by having a combination of both
competitive fight and emotional control.
A helpful acronym in the form of a
question during competition is Are you
CALM in the storm of competition?
C Are you Centered in the here and
now?
A Are you Accepting of what is?
L Are you Logical in your thinking?
M Are you Mindful of your next move?
As a player on the court or as a person dealing with life, you are more likely
to have emotional balance if you are
centered in the here and now; accepting of what is; logical in your thinking;
and mindful of your next move. So stay
CALM in the heat of competition.
Another key to emotional balance is
composure. Composure is something
easier said than done when faced with
obstacles, especially when the outcome
is in doubt. This applies on and off the
tennis court or any athletic field of play
as well as in dealing with lifes obstacles.
Ask yourself, how well am I dealing
with mistakes on and off the court?
How well do I handle things when
things are not going as planned? Keep

in mind the 3 Rs for Composure.
Recognize you are dwelling on mistakes
Regroup by interrupting the chain of
thought
Refocus on the next play/move.
You can get back into emotional
balance faster if you keep the 3 Rs in
mind during the battle. Its hard enough
to battle your opponent. Why are you
spending so much energy battling yourself? You could repeat the 3 Rs to yourself (Recognize-Regroup-Refocus)
between points to change your perspective if need be.
If we can find the proper

emotional balance we will
discover a better version
of ourselves on and off
the tennis court.
A final key ties emotional balance
with viewing the situation as a great
opportunity. So many of us become
obsessed with the outcome. We want to
win! The opponent wants to win, too!
Now that we have the given part out
of the way, we can focus on viewing the
situation as a great opportunity to be
part of the contest, the game, the unknown. Its an opportunity for challenge,
for self-discovery and if you are part of
a team, for achievement for all. Can you
look at the situation as an opportunity
for play, for exercise, for testing your
mental, emotional and physical skills
against someone else? You can choose
to see the opportunity as part of the reward. The opportunity can be a gift in itself and winning can enhance the feeling
of accomplishment. But either way you
or your team can choose to put yourself
out there and get something worthwhile

out of the experience. This one is probably too long for automatic recall but it
can be reviewed during quiet times of
reflection.
Look for your OPPORTUNITY in
sport and in life.
O Open to self-discovery
P Passionate
P Persistent
O Opposition (you can deal with it)
R Responsible
T Trustworthy (be trustworthy with
others)
U Unity (respect differences and value
things in common)
N Nourish your relationships with
other people
I Introspective (honestly look at
yourself )
T Transformation (you can welcome
and handle lifes changes, good and
bad)
Y You count, too!
When you have opportunities in
sport, you get the chance to play. If in
life, you get the chance to participate.
Thats a good thing. There may be some
people who are opposed to you being successful out of envy, jealousy or
resentment. You cannot let them stop
you from pursuing the opportunity
for your own success. Be thankful for
the opportunity in itself and allow that
to help you with your own emotional
balance.
If we can find the proper emotional
balance, we will discover a better version of ourselves on and off the tennis
court. h
Ben Loeb is the head boys and
girls tennis coach at Rock Bridge
High School in Columbia, Mo. He
was named the USPTA Missouri
Valley High School Coach of the
Year in 2010, 2011 and 2014.
Master Pro Corner
Pay yourself first

By Sean Sloane, USPTA Master Professional
or tennis professionals, preparing for retirement is crucial.

Who wants to be feeding balls
eight hours a day at age 66?
In order to be well prepared for
retirement at an age of your choosing,
pay yourself first! Whatever your
age, be sure to establish a retirement
plan and contribute to that plan from
every paycheck. The amount is not important what is important is that you
begin regular contributions. As you and
your retirement plan mature, you can
increase the amount of contributions as
your paycheck i ncreases.
In addition to your own contributions, ask your employer if there is a
matching retirement plan available to
you. If there is, take full advantage
this is free money!
Be sure to research the many possibilities available to you through
USPTA. Every dollar contributed to
your retirement plan by USPTA licensees is free money leverage these opportunities to the hilt! Do you patronize the USPTA licensees below? Then
you have already begun preparing for
your retirement!
n Prince
n Fromuth/Nike
Every dollar contributed to

your retirement plan by USPTA
licensees is free money leverage
these opportunities to the hilt!
n Jeunesse
how little, the longer your money has

to grow, and you will be surprised and
amazed at the power of compounding.
Do you know anything about IRAs,
Roth IRAs, and the stock market?
Check out USPTAs Retirement Gold+
plan and begin preparing now for a
well-deserved retirement at the age you
choose! h
If you are a young pro and havent

thought yet about retirement, start
now! The earlier you begin contributing to a retirement plan, no matter
Sean Sloane is the mens tennis coach

and mens/womens squash coach at
Haverford College in Haverford, Pa. He
also has served as an adjunct professor
of English at Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J.
n NetKnacks
n 10-S Tennis Supply

n Aer-Flo
n Hop-A-Razzi
n Power Plate
n Connor Sport Court

n 2XU
n Plannit
Remembering Rich
By Shawna Riley
Long-time USPTA member Rich Fanning passed away on Friday, Aug. 21. He served as
USPTAs Director of Operations for nearly 27 years, retiring in 2013. This tribute is written by Shawna Riley, who served as USPTAs Director of Communications for 22 years.
ich Fanning was the first perand true friendship. Its the sort of thing
that gradually reveals itself when you
son I met when I drove from
least expect it. I began to see another
Port Arthur, Texas, to Houston
to interview for a job with
side of his personality. There was a
USPTA in 1990. I was nervous, and he
sweet, caring and funny man under all
didnt do anything to calm my interview
those rules and regulations.
jitters. I dont think he cracked a smile
He was very proud of his two daughters and his granddaughter. He spoke of
during that first meeting.
his time in the Navy, and he shared his
I also met Tim Heckler during that
enjoyment of stained glass work, and
interview, and I figured that they were
made some beautiplaying a little bad
ful pieces. I know
cop-good cop sceIm not the only staff
nario to really test
member who has at
me! I guess I passed
least one or more
the test because I
worked for USPTA
of his stained glass
for the next 22 years.
angels. But, when it
During those years,
came to matters of
I grew to know and
the heart, Richs lips
love Rich.
were sealed!
What I realized
That started to
from the beginchange when I got a
ning was that Rich
call from a woman
was fiercely loyal to
who wanted to deliver
USPTA, and he wanta birthday cake to
Shawna Riley and Rich Fanning
ed to hire employees
USPTA to celebrate
who also would be hard working and deRichs birthday. She wanted to meet me
voted to the business of the association
outside our office building, and I took the
and its members. Rich continued to test
cake from her and invited her to join us,
me during the first few years of my tenure but she declined. So, Rich had a girlfriend!
with USPTA. We sometimes agreed to
Rich was surprised by the cake and I
disagree on issues, and I knew my boundbegan to ask him a few questions. He was
aries and how far to push (or not).
tight-lipped and didnt offer any details.
Rich was former Navy, and it showed.
The staff could tell something was up.
He was the first person to arrive at the ofHe seemed more relaxed and smiled a lot
fice and, for many years, the last person to more, but he still refused to talk the day
leave USPTA each day. He was famous for
he appeared with a beautiful jade ring on
his 6 a.m. World Conference staff meethis left hand, only managing one of his
ings. He referred to his trusty flip chart as
half grins.
he ran down the days events and pointed
The old reporter in me didnt give up.
out who was supposed to be where to
I knew that sneaky man had probably gotten married and I was going to find proof.
make the conference run without a hitch.
I went to the computer and found out that
As the years passed, those 6 a.m. meeta marriage license had been issued to Rich
ings were dropped, but I have no doubt
and Losa in Harris County (Houston).
the staff was able to run the event on auto
pilot because of the years of structure and Without telling him we knew, the staff got
precision instituted by Rich. I know we all a card, signed it and sent it to his home address to congratulate the new couple!
enjoyed the extra sleep!
I am so happy Rich had Losa. After
I cant tell you when it actually happened, but I finally earned Richs trust
the secret was out, it wasnt long before
he placed a portrait of him and Losa on

his desk. He loved bragging about her,
especially her cooking skills. Married life
seemed to complete him.
I feel certain Rich would tell us to
have no regrets, but Im sorry I wasnt
able to visit with him more often after we
both left USPTA. Id go through that scary
interview from 1990 all over again, knowing now that Id learn so much working
with Rich and at USPTA. Of course,
perhaps now, Id ask him to break out
the stash of Peanut M&Ms in his desk
drawer and perhaps get him to crack that
smile he wouldnt crack so long ago! h
Rich and Losa Fanning
Career Development
Exams, Upgrades Workshops
& Courses
& PTCA I
(4 credits for PTCA I segment)
Nov. 1
Lakewood, Calif.
Nov. 1
Richmond, Va.
Nov. 8
Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Nov. 8
Hendersonville, Tenn.
Nov. 8
Jackson, Miss.
Nov. 8
New Orleans
Nov. 13
Westowood, Kans.
Nov. 14
Mequon, Wisc.
Ocala, Fla.
Nov. 14-15
Nov. 14-15
Rye, N.H.
Tucson, Ariz.
Nov. 14-15
Big Rapids, Mich.
Nov. 14-15
Nov. 20
Princeton, N.J.
Nov. 20-21 Houston*
Nov. 21-22
Mountlake Terrace, Wash.
(10 credits per level)
Nov. 11-15 ICI Spanish Tennis Teaching

System (Level 1 & Level2)
Emilio Sanchez-Vacario; Houston
Conventions
(4 credits)
Nov. 6-7 USPTA Southern U30 Conference
Nashville, Tenn.
Webinars
Applicant: late cancellation fee $95; failure to cancel

application fee is forfeited. Certified members: late
cancellation fee $25; failure to cancel $25 plus the
upgrade fee is forfeited. Registration for another exam
will not be accepted until cancellation fees are paid.
Accredited
Professional
Coach
National Education Day is Nov. 15.

In order to help you reach your goal
of six continuing education credits
for the 2014-2016 period, every division will host at least one educational
event on or around Nov. 15.
Visit uspta.com/education to see the
calendar or visit your divisions website
at usptaplayer.com.
(.5 credits)
Oct. 27
Nov. 18
* This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters.

Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days
prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam,
upgrade and PTCA I unless noted. Exam cancellations
must be received no later than 14 days before the
exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly.
National
Education Day
Dec. 9
Developing resilient,
confident competitors
Larry Lauer
Analyzing the Forehand
Groundstroke
Ramona Husaru
The Xs and Os of adding
fitness to your tennis resume
Lane Evans
Cardio Tennis
Oct. 25
Oct. 26
Nov. 8
CT
CT
CT
Dallas, Texas
Shreveport, Calif.
Wheaton, Calif.
TM
Nov. 14
Nov. 14
Nov. 15
Nov. 29
CT
TRX CT
TRX CT
CT
La Quinta, Calif.
La Quinta, Calif.
La Quinta, Calif.
London
Register your Accredited Professional Coach (APC)

and specialty course credits earned with the USPTA
SmartCode Education System. This uses your
smartphone to instantly register your attendance
to all seminars and specialty
courses earning APC.
To use the system at a
seminar, general session or
specialty course, you must
scan two QR codes. One QR
code is on your conference badge. The second
QR code will be in your conference notebook and
cannot be scanned until the end of the session or
the beginning of the next session.
If you do not have a smartphone, you may use
someone elses. Forms are available upon request.
Please visit www.cardiotennistraining.com to register online.
Education requirements
All USPTA-certified Professionals must earn 6 education credits in a three-year period
to remain current. Go to USPTA.com/Education for a partial list of eligible activities. Please send verification (email, letter, certificate, receipt, etc.) that shows you
attended the event/activity and submit it along with the date and agenda to education@uspta.org to receive your credit. (International members, Recreational Coaches
and those over the age of 65 are exempt.) Questions? Write to education@uspta.org
or call 800-877-8248, ext. 147.
Member News
USPTA Professional Paul Cass and daughter
Julie Cass competed in the National Father
Daughter Grass Court Championships held
at Longwood Cricket Club in Boston. They
won their record ninth overall Gold Ball as
they won the Senior Division by defeating
the Morse-Karzen team 7-5, 6-3 in the finals.
USPTA Womens Committee meeting at the 2015 USPTA World Conference in New Orleans.
The annual Lessons for Life Play for Pink Breast Cancer Fundraiser was held on July 28 at the Bass
Rocks Golf & Tennis Club in Gloucester, Mass. Director of Tennis Avis R. Murray (kneeling at left) organized this annual event, which raised more than $1,000. Three round robins were held during the
morning at the same time as the golf ladies played, and both fundraisers together raised more than
$6,000 for this worthy cause. Avis was assisted by Kimberly Foster, Lynne Salah and Caleb Willett.
Claudio Armandi was named 2015 USPTA
New England Youth Coach of
the Year. Armandi is a national
expert in junior development
specializing in 10-and-under
programming and high performance training.
NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The first ever Hammock Challenge was hosted by Hammock Dunes Club against nearby Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Fla. Members of each club played in a friendly tennis competition consisting of mens, womens, and mixed doubles then enjoyed a courtside barbeque. Prior
to the tennis, Hammock Dunes Club also had the grand opening of their brand new pickleball
courts as well. The inaugural event was a coordinated effort by Hammock Dunes Club Tennis and
Athletics Director Ryan Khan (pictured in the back row on the left) and USPTA Elite Professionals
Gene Paul Lascano, Hammock Beach Resort Tennis Director (pictured front row, second from
the right), and Katsiaryna Lukomskaya, Hammock Beach Resort Head Tennis Professional
(pictured kneeling on the right).
ADDvantage magazine editorial offices
USPTA World Headquarters
3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite 202
Houston, TX 77042
Phone 713-978-7782 / 800-USPTA-4U
Fax 713-358-7794
email magazine@uspta.org
Managing editor
Circulation
Kimberly Forrester
Kathy Buchanan
Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time

ADDvantage is published monthly by the
United States Professional Tennis Association.
President
First Vice
President
Tom McGraw
Chuck Gill
Vice Presidents

Past President
CEO
Legal Counsel
Alan Cutler
Jack Michalko
Dan Moster
Diane Selke
Gary Trost
TM
Tom Daglis
John Embree
George Parnell
The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the

authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the
USPTA.
Copyright United States Professional Tennis
Association, Inc. 2015. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not
permitted without written permission from USPTA.

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Racquet Sports

NOV/DEC 2015 / VOLUME 43/ NUMBER 10 / $5.00

Wish List for

Help Your Players

Tennis shoe manufacturers are creating

40 String Playtest: Babolat M7 17

Court surface uses

Hall of Fame capital

32 Pickleball and Tennis

The explosive growth of pickleball can be a

Van der Meer, Gullikson

Having the right grips and overgrips are

64 Pay Yourself First

46 Vice Presidents Message

Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

David Bone Jeff Williams

n the September/October issue, I wrote about how we in

level, with support from and for

Peter Francesconi, Editorial Director

Former USTA, TIA Prez

ormer USTA and TIA President Dave Haggerty was

USPTA HQ to Move from

Babolat POP is a Connected

Solomon-Led Group Buys

seating on the South and East sides; an

Attention Stringers! Scam Alert!

apologizes for any inconvenience this

Surface Uses Recycled Balls

The industrys foremost physicist of

January-June, 2015 vs. 2014

Youth Event Held at US Open

Nancy Horn Passes Away

Van der Meer, Gullikson

HoF, ITF Honor Stenning

Hot New Racquets

Top-Selling Tennis Shoes

tions for the Lighting Solutions division. Matsueda will

International Tennis Federation President Francesco

LSI Industries Inc.

Longtime USPTA Director

St. Cecilia Catholic Church,

honor of Benjamin and made

Longtime USTA Missouri

Ben Porter is the new Global

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has

Wayne and Kathy Bryan,

Canadian Doctors Write

in its new line of ZyMax badminton

signed to provide chronic string breakers

Many Canadians who visit the doctor

NCAA Div. 1 Championships

New ZyMax 69 Badminton

during the US Open.

Nick XL squash strings

its USTA and US Open

Infosys and the ATP

Art Tucker Retires From CSS

USTA Foundation Receives

PTR Hall of Fame To Induct BJK

International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987 and

Vigeant is New USRSA

Each issue, Editorial Director Peter

Business Model Needs

Van der Meer, Gullikson